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Starsem SASoyuz 2.1a Fregat-M31/6, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
MetOp-B
Launched
September 17, 2012
Summary
MetOp-B launched on a Starsem SA Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M from 31/6, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan on September 17, 2012. It was Starsem SA's 4th launch, 1st this year and humanity's 5,241st orbital launch attempt. It was the 6th Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). METOP B, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 12 × 815 km orbit inclined 98.8°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- MetOp-B launch replayEuropean Space Agency, ESA
- Vehicle
- Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M · Starsem SA
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Earth Science · Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
- Milestone
- 6th Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M flight · 1st this yearStarsem SA's 4th launch1st this yearhumanity's 5,241st orbital launch attempt51st orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
METOP B · NORAD 38771 · 2012-049 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 2012-049A
- Epoch
- 2012-09-17 17:57:03 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.53487353 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0591875
- Inclination
- 98.7908°
- Ascending node
- 319.4148°
- Arg. of perigee
- 257.7303°
- Mean anomaly
- 93.4673°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: SSO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; 1 still in orbit
- METOP B · NORAD 38771 · in orbit
Fregat No. 1037 · deorbited September 17, 2012
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
MetOp is a series of three polar orbiting meteorological satellites developed by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Pad
31/6, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
353rd launch from 31/6, 3rd this year · 1,393rd from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
430 launches from this pad · 1,565 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
57 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of KazakhstanOpen in maps
Questions
When did MetOp-B launch?
MetOp-B launched on September 17, 2012. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch MetOp-B?
Coverage: MetOp-B launch replay. Watch the replay
What rocket launched MetOp-B?
Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M, flown by Starsem SA. Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M spec sheet
Where did MetOp-B launch from?
31/6, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan.
What orbit did MetOp-B reach?
METOP B, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 12 × 815 km orbit inclined 98.8°.
How many satellites did MetOp-B launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).