# Meteosat 4

> decommissioned European weather satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q18327606](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18327606)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/meteosat-4

## Summary  
Meteosat 4 was a decommissioned European weather satellite, part of the Meteosat First Generation series. Launched in 1989, it operated in geostationary orbit to provide meteorological data until its retirement in 1995. It was manufactured by Aérospatiale and operated by the European Space Agency.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: March 6, 1989, at 23:29 UTC aboard an Ariane 44LP rocket (flight V29) from ELA-2.  
- **Operator**: European Space Agency (ESA).  
- **Manufacturer**: Aérospatiale.  
- **Orbit**: Geostationary orbit.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1989-020B.  
- **Service Entry**: June 19, 1989.  
- **Service Retirement**: November 8, 1995.  
- **Preceded by**: Meteosat 3.  
- **Followed by**: Meteosat 5.  
- **Alias**: MOP 1.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the purpose of Meteosat 4?  
A: Meteosat 4 was designed to provide meteorological data from geostationary orbit, supporting weather forecasting and climate monitoring in Europe.  

### Q: When was Meteosat 4 launched?  
A: It was launched on March 6, 1989, from the ELA-2 launch site aboard an Ariane 44LP rocket.  

### Q: How long was Meteosat 4 operational?  
A: It operated from June 19, 1989, until its retirement on November 8, 1995—a service life of over six years.  

## Why It Matters  
Meteosat 4 played a critical role in advancing Europe's meteorological capabilities during its operational lifetime. As part of the Meteosat First Generation series, it contributed to improved weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, and climate research by delivering continuous Earth observation data. Its success paved the way for subsequent generations of Meteosat satellites, which continue to enhance global weather monitoring today. The satellite's data was vital for scientists and meteorologists, helping to mitigate weather-related risks and improve agricultural planning.  

## Notable For  
- **First Generation**: Part of the pioneering Meteosat First Generation series, establishing Europe's independent weather satellite infrastructure.  
- **Longevity**: Operated for over six years, exceeding its expected service life.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Deployed via the Ariane 44LP rocket, a reliable workhorse for European space missions.  

## Body  
### Launch and Deployment  
- Launched on **March 6, 1989**, from **ELA-2** at the Guiana Space Centre.  
- Rocket: **Ariane 44LP (flight V29)**.  
- Space tug: **H10 (L403)**.  

### Operational Timeline  
- **Service Entry**: June 19, 1989.  
- **Service Retirement**: November 8, 1995.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Manufacturer**: Aérospatiale.  
- **Orbit**: Geostationary.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1989-020B.  
- **SCN**: 19876.  

### Predecessors and Successors  
- **Preceded by**: Meteosat 3.  
- **Followed by**: Meteosat 5.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Satellite",
  "name": "Meteosat 4",
  "description": "Decommissioned European weather satellite part of the Meteosat First Generation series.",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367"],
  "operationalPeriod": {
    "@type": "DateTime",
    "startDate": "1989-06-19",
    "endDate": "1995-11-08"
  },
  "manufacturer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Aérospatiale"
  },
  "operator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "European Space Agency"
  }
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/meteosat-1.htm)
2. [Source](https://www.eumetsat.int/meteosat-first-generation-retired)
3. Jonathan's Space Report