A newEuropean weather satellite has passed a vital vacuum test to prove itis fitfor the rigors of space, the European Space Agency has announced.
With themonth-longtest complete, the satellite ? called MetOp-B? is now a step closer to being ready to launch in spring 2012 asplanned.
Theinstrument, built by the European Space Agency endured temperaturesranging fromover 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius) to minus 184 degreesFahrenheit (minus 120 degrees Celsius), simulating the harshenvironment itwill encounter in Earth orbit.
"Someof MetOp-B?s sensors work under much colder conditions still, becausethey areactively cooled for optimal performance verification" said ESA MetOpprogram manager Luciano Di Napoli in a statement.
Thesatellite will house a group of sensitive instruments needed to collectcontinuous data on temperature, humidity, cloud cover and gases in the atmosphereof our planet.
"Thesedata are essential for operationalmeteorology and climate research," said lead researcher RobOremus.
The vacuum testwas conducted at ESA?s Large Space Simulator at the European SpaceResearch andTechnology Centre in the Netherlands, which houses a vacuum chamberlargeenough to hold a double-decker bus standing upright.
"Nowthat the module has overcome the vacuum test, the path is clear for therun-upto the launch," Oremus said.
After moretests and outfitting work, MetOp-B is scheduled to launch atop aRussian Soyuzrocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in 2012.
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