Taken from EUMETSAT, 12 September

The mechanical integration of the Upper Composite with Soyuz Block was performed successfully on 11 September, and electrical tests are now underway.

The Upper Composite and Soyuz Block I integrated in the MIK 40 facility (Gökhan Kayal)

Weighing about 12 tonnes (12,000 kilos), the Upper Composite was carefully lifted with a crane onto a train on the afternoon of 10 September. The train and its precious cargo made a slow and steady journey overnight, finally arriving at its destination the following morning.

The Upper Composite is unloaded in the MIK 40 facility (EUMETSAT)

Once safely inside the MIK 40 processing facility, the mechanical integration of the Upper Composite and Soyuz Block I was initiated and completed. The launch team is now conducting a series of electrical tests and everything is running according to schedule.

Metop-B is due to be launched from the base at Baikonur, Kazakhstan at 16:28:40 UTC on 17 September.

Integration with Soyuz Block I (EUMETSAT)

The Metop satellites are Europe’s first operational meteorological satellites in polar orbit. They constitute the space segment of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) delivering data for numerical weather prediction (NWP) – the basis of modern weather forecasting – and climate and environmental monitoring.

Integration with Soyuz Block I (EUMETSAT)