# Meteosat 6

> decommissioned European weather satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q18327604](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18327604)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/meteosat-6

## Summary  
Meteosat 6 is a decommissioned European weather satellite, part of the Meteosat First Generation series. Launched in 1993, it operated in geostationary orbit to provide meteorological data until its retirement in 2011. It was manufactured by Aérospatiale and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and later EUMETSAT.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: November 20, 1993, from ELA-2 aboard an Ariane 44LP rocket.  
- **Operators**: ESA (1993–1995) and EUMETSAT (1995–2011).  
- **Service Period**: Entered service on October 21, 1996; retired on April 15, 2011.  
- **Orbit**: Geostationary orbit.  
- **Manufacturer**: Aérospatiale.  
- **Preceded by**: Meteosat 5.  
- **Succeeded by**: Meteosat 7.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1993-073B.  
- **Alias**: MOP 3.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Meteosat 6 used for?  
A: Meteosat 6 provided meteorological data from geostationary orbit, supporting weather forecasting and climate monitoring in Europe and beyond.  

### Q: When was Meteosat 6 launched?  
A: It was launched on November 20, 1993, from the ELA-2 launch site using an Ariane 44LP rocket.  

### Q: Who operated Meteosat 6?  
A: Initially operated by ESA (1993–1995), it was later transferred to EUMETSAT (1995–2011) until its retirement.  

## Why It Matters  
Meteosat 6 played a critical role in Europe's meteorological observation infrastructure, providing continuous weather data essential for forecasting and climate research. As part of the Meteosat First Generation series, it helped establish Europe's capability in satellite-based weather monitoring, paving the way for advanced successors. Its long operational lifespan (1996–2011) demonstrated the reliability of early geostationary weather satellites, contributing to global meteorological science and disaster preparedness.  

## Notable For  
- **Long Service**: Operated for nearly 15 years, from 1996 to 2011.  
- **Transition of Operators**: Handed over from ESA to EUMETSAT in 1995.  
- **First Generation**: Part of the pioneering Meteosat First Generation series.  

## Body  
### Launch and Deployment  
- Launched on **November 20, 1993**, at 01:17 UTC from **ELA-2**.  
- Rocket: **Ariane 44LP** (flight V61).  
- Space tug: **H10+**.  

### Operational History  
- Entered service on **October 21, 1996**.  
- Retired on **April 15, 2011**.  
- Operators:  
  - **ESA** (1993–1995).  
  - **EUMETSAT** (1995–2011).  

### Technical Specifications  
- Manufacturer: **Aérospatiale**.  
- Orbit: **Geostationary**.  
- COSPAR ID: **1993-073B**.  

### Relationships  
- Preceded by **Meteosat 5**.  
- Succeeded by **Meteosat 7**.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Meteosat 6",
  "description": "Decommissioned European weather satellite part of the Meteosat First Generation series.",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367"],
  "additionalType": "Satellite"
}

## 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