Electronic unit known as SCEU for the IASI instrument on-board MetOp-A
SENER has designed, manufactured and tested the electronic unit known as SCEU for the IASI instrument (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer), installed on the MetOp-A weather satellite. From its launch, this instrument has measured temperature and humidity profiles of the Earth’s atmosphere over 30 strips perpendicular to the trajectory that it describes on the Earth’s surface, which it covers thanks to variations in its line of sight. When IASI enters Nominal Operation, mirror movement is activated, fixing its line of sight and successively scanning the 30 positions of interferometer measurement. Flight telemetry has confirmed the correct control of the mirror, as well as excellent dynamic pointing performance. SENER designed, manufactured and tested the electronic unit known as SCEU, which controls and move the mirror.
Eumetsat has ordered 3 MetOp satellites for which three SCEU units have already been delivered. Each must control several million scanning cycles throughout its nominal five-year useful life, guaranteeing high accuracy and pointing stability at all times.
