METOP launch

The EUMETSAT METOP-A spacecraft was launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on 19 October 2006 at 16:28 UTC and handed over to EUMETSAT operations team on 22 October. METOP-A is the first of a series of three polar-orbiting meteorological satellites to be operated by EUMETSAT over the next 15 years on a mid-morning orbit, crossing the Equator southwards at 09h30 (Local Solar Time), as part of the NOAA-EUMETSAT Initial Joint Polar System. Its payload includes eight different instruments for atmospheric sounding and various meteorological and environmental applications, namely the prototype Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI).

First image taken by METOP over Europe on 25 October 2006
(Source: CMS Lannion)

See:  http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/index.htm