http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/vega-flight-vv12-delay/The liftoff of Arianespace’s Flight VV12 with Europe’s Aeolus satellite has been delayed by 24 hours due to winds at altitude over the Spaceport in French Guiana...With this one-day postponement, the liftoff of Flight VV12 is now set for August 22 at exactly 6:20:08 p.m., local time in French Guiana – pending an improvement of the wind conditions at altitude.
Depuis l’exploit de VA241 qui a survolé kourou (la plage), la sauvegarde est devenue très tatillonne et a réévalué pas mal de choses. Lancer Vega et soyouz est devenu difficile
The delay is apparently related to VA241.QuoteDepuis l’exploit de VA241 qui a survolé kourou (la plage), la sauvegarde est devenue très tatillonne et a réévalué pas mal de choses. Lancer Vega et soyouz est devenu difficilehttp://www.forum-conquete-spatiale.fr/t15514p25-vega-vv12-adm-aeolus-22-8-2018
Aeolus is just a one-off demonstration mission, which raises the question of what happens when it inevitably reaches the end of its working life.If it delivers on its promise, forecasters will be loath to lose the advantage. But it would not be Esa's role to produce a second spacecraft.The agency is in the business of R&D, of trialling new concepts. It would be down to others to fund follow-on missions.In Europe, this would fall either to Eumetsat, the intergovernmental organisation that runs Europe's operational weather satellites, or the European Commission through its own Earth observation programme, known as Copernicus.It is conceivable also that international partners, such as the US and China, would be interested in lofting a constellation of satellites.
Following 24-hour delay for the launch of Aeolus because of winds, everything looks good for the launch today at 23:20 CEST.
With Aeolus ‘switched on’, teams at ESA’s European Spacecraft Operations Centre in Germany and teams at the launch site in Kourou are in position for liftoff.
In #Kourou the huge mobile gantry that surrounds and protects the #Vega rocket🚀 is starting to retract away from the launch pad. The mobile gantry is 50m tall and weighs over 1 million kg! It has protected #Aelous🛰🌬 and #Vega during preparation
Just over 2 hours left in the #Aeolus countdown tonight...
What is the URL for the webcast? I can't seem to find it on the Arianespace web site.