# MetOp-C
*missions*

MetOp-C is the third EUMETSAT polar-orbiting meteorological satellite. Launched November 2018, commissioned early 2019. Sun-synchronous orbit at 827 km, LTAN 09:31 descending. Does not carry HIRS/4 (unlike MetOp-A and MetOp-B). Carries AMSU-A, MHS, IASI, ASCAT, AVHRR/3, GOME-2, GRAS, SEM-2. EOL estimated 2033 or later.

## Specifications
- **operator**: eumetsat
- **current status**: operational
- **actual launch**: 2018-11-07
- **entity type**: mission
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-11
- **verified by**: agency-doc
- **claim status**: agency-sourced
- **provider**: eumetsat
- **attributes**: {"summary":"MetOp-C is the third EUMETSAT polar-orbiting meteorological satellite. Launched November 2018, commissioned early 2019. Sun-synchronous orbit at 827 km, LTAN 09:31 descending. Does not carry HIRS/4 (unlike MetOp-A and MetOp-B). Carries AMSU-A, MHS, IASI, ASCAT, AVHRR/3, GOME-2, GRAS, SEM-2. EOL estimated 2033 or later.","operator":"eumetsat","current_status":"operational","actual_launch":"2018-11-07"}
- **relevance**: in-scope

## Editorial
MetOp-C is the third and final satellite of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS), a joint ESA-EUMETSAT operational meteorological programme. Launched 7 November 2018 from Baikonur on a Soyuz rocket, it was commissioned in early 2019. The satellite operates in a sun-synchronous orbit at 827 km altitude with a 09:31 descending local solar time (LTAN).[^oscar-metop-c][^eumetsat-metop-series]

Unlike MetOp-A and MetOp-B, MetOp-C does not carry HIRS/4, giving it a 10-instrument payload rather than 12.[^oscar-metop-c] The suite comprises AMSU-A, MHS, IASI, ASCAT, AVHRR/3, GOME-2, GRAS, SEM-2, an Argos-3 data collection system, and a Search and Rescue transponder. WMO OSCAR records AMSU-A and MHS as degraded on MetOp-C; EUMETSAT lists the satellite as operationally active.[^oscar-metop-c][^eumetsat-metop-series]

MetOp-C currently serves as the primary operational NWP satellite in the EPS constellation. End-of-life is estimated at 2033 or later, according to mission planning documentation, though this date has not been publicly confirmed.[^eumetsat-metop-series]

## Compositional position
- MetOp-C --[mission_payloads]--> amsu-a (products)
- MetOp-C --[mission_payloads]--> mhs (products)
- osi-saf-ascat-winds (data_products) --[related]--> MetOp-C

## Sources
- [oscar-metop-c] | WMO OSCAR - MetOp-C satellite record | https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/metop_c | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-11
- [eumetsat-metop-series] | EUMETSAT MetOp satellite series | https://www.eumetsat.int/our-satellites/metop-series | tier=operator-engineering | accessed=2026-06-11
- [eoportal-metop] | MetOp programme, eoPortal | https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/metop | tier=community | accessed=2026-06-11

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/missions/metop-c
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)