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#20 by GewoonLukas_ on 09 Mar, 2024 19:09
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Quote
Farewell EarthCARE! 👋
Designed and built by Airbus, the latest @esa “Earth Explorer” spacecraft 🛰️ is now ready and packed up 📦. The climate monitoring satellite is leaving Europe 🛫 to its launch site 🛬 in Vandenberg, California.
EarthCARE is planned to be launched in May 🚀
This new satellite mission will quantify and reduce the uncertainty about the role that clouds and aerosols (tiny atmospheric particles) play in heating and cooling Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to our better understanding of climate change.
https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace/status/1766424309159879142QuoteEarthCARE goes west for launch
09 March 2024
The Airbus-built EarthCARE (Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer) spacecraft has left Munich, Germany, and is now on its way aboard an aircraft to its launch site in Vandenberg, California. EarthCARE is planned to be launched in May on a Falcon 9 rocket.
[...]
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#21 by bolun on 12 Mar, 2024 19:00
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EarthCARE arrives at Vandenberg launch siteQuote
After a smooth journey from Germany, ESA’s EarthCARE satellite has arrived at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Here, it is being stored over the next few weeks before it’s time get the satellite ready for liftoff in May.
Image credit: ESA
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#22 by bolun on 18 Apr, 2024 17:12
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And so it beginsQuote
The time to ready EarthCARE for liftoff has officially begun. After a few weeks in storage in the NASA building at the Vandenberg launch site in California, the satellite, still packed safely in its transport container, has been moved to the Astrotech building where it will be put though a round of final tests.
Credits: ESA
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#23 by bolun on 18 Apr, 2024 17:30
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EarthCARE out of container and chargedQuote
The launch campaign team has been reunited with EarthCARE after removing their precious satellite from its transport container.
A few days ago, the container was taken out of storage in the NASA building and moved by truck to the Astrotech where work to ready the EarthCARE satellite for liftoff has now begun.
Credits: ESA
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#24 by AndrewM on 22 Apr, 2024 14:42
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Targeting Late May.Quote
“The team has a lot of work to do, the satellite is not only big, but extremely complex so everything has to be carefully checked and prepared before it is encapsulated within its Falcon 9 rocket fairing prior to launch towards the end of May.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/EarthCARE/EarthCARE_out_of_the_box
[Apr 16] -
#25 by jacqmans on 29 Apr, 2024 12:59
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#26 by bolun on 03 May, 2024 11:38
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Opening EarthCARE’s cloud profiling radar
A few weeks ago, a team of engineers carefully extracted ESA's EarthCARE satellite from its protective transport container, initiating a meticulous process of inspection, testing and preparation for its liftoff later this month from the Vandenberg launch site in California. One of the tasks involved opening the satellite’s cloud profiling radar antenna, which spans 2.5 m across. This instrument, provided by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is engineered to penetrate clouds to yield detailed insights into their vertical structure, velocity, particle size and distribution, and water content.
Related article: ESA’s cloud and aerosol satellite aerosol-free
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/05/Opening_EarthCARE_s_cloud_profiling_radar
Image credit: ESA
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#27 by StraumliBlight on 11 May, 2024 21:30
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#28 by Targeteer on 14 May, 2024 09:53
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https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/1790260409405984869Quote
With fuelling completed, the liftoff of @esa's #EarthCARE satellite is getting closer and closer!
Fuelling a satellite is slightly 😜 more complicated than fuelling your car: it involves special suits that only a designated team can wear, very hazardous hydrazine fuel and... a scale!
The scale is needed to carefully measure the fuel loaded: EarthCARE weighs 2200 kg (including a maximum of 310 kg fuel).
https://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/2024/05/13/earthcare-satellite-loaded/ -
#29 by zubenelgenubi on 15 May, 2024 16:02
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In the absence of an announced NET launch date, NOTAMs, etc.; seeking insight...
Is it most probable EarthCARE will launch as soon as SLC-4E can turnaround after the NROL-146 launch?
Ditto re: LZ-4 landing? Therefore, not requiring OCISLY turnaround? -
#30 by ZachS09 on 15 May, 2024 16:11
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In the absence of an announced NET launch date, NOTAMs, etc.; seeking insight...
Is it most probable EarthCARE will launch as soon as SLC-4E can turnaround after the NROL-146 launch?
Ditto re: LZ-4 landing? Therefore, not requiring OCISLY turnaround?
EarthCARE is 2,350 kilograms; so Falcon 9 can directly insert it into the 393-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit, using the stubby M-Vac nozzle, with the booster landing at LZ-4. I’m also predicting payload separation somewhere between 13 and 14 minutes MET.
Two M-Vac burns with the second one being the deorbit burn for Stage 2. -
#31 by StraumliBlight on 15 May, 2024 16:21
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https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/1790692097978474896Quote
#EarthCARE launch campaign proceeds at full speed: today the Combined Operations should start with the mating on the Launch Vehicle Adapter.
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#32 by jacqmans on 17 May, 2024 07:37
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EarthCARE mission kit
17/05/2024
Explore this mission kit to learn more about EarthCARE – ESA’s new mission that will shed new light on the role that clouds and aerosols play in regulating Earth’s climate.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/EarthCARE/EarthCARE_mission_kit
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/EarthCARE
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#33 by jacqmans on 17 May, 2024 09:13
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Media advisory: EarthCARE launch media opportunities
ESA’s EarthCARE mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, no earlier than Tuesday 28 May 2024.
EarthCARE is the most complex of all of ESA’s trailblazing Earth Explorer missions – missions that deliver critical information to understand how our world functions and the impact that human activity is having on natural processes.
Developed as a cooperation between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), this exciting mission will make a range of different measurements that together will shed new light on the role that clouds and aerosols play in regulating Earth’s delicate temperature balance.
With global climate change increasingly affecting our planet, EarthCARE is poised to provide data for climate research, improve the accuracy of climate models and support numerical weather prediction.
Media can attend a wide range of in-person and online pre-launch media briefings detailed below and are also invited to participate in the European launch event currently planned to take place on 28 May 2024 at ESA’s European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.
Please note that journalists wishing to attend several of the events mentioned below should register for each activity separately to ensure that they receive the right link/information.
Pre-launch media event at ECSAT UK (Tuesday 21 May,13:00-15:00 BST)
Programme
12:00-13:00 welcome and light lunch
13:00-14:00 expert presentations followed by media Q&A:
Anthony Illingworth, Emeritus Professor of Atmospheric Physics, University of Reading
Michael Eisinger, Performance & Science Products Coordinator, European Space Agency
Robin J. Hogan, Principal Scientist, Earth System Modelling Section, ECMWF
Beth Greenaway, Head of Earth Observation and Climate at the UK Space Agency, UKSA
Ralph Cordey, Head of Earth Science, Airbus UK
Andrew Haslehurst, Chief Technology Officer, SSTL
Will Grainger, Head of Systems Engineering, RAL Space
Manuel Ángel Ruiz Saldaña, Ground Segment Business Manager UK, GMV-NSL
Helen Brindley, Divisional Director within the UK's National Centre for Earth Observation
14:00-15:00 individual interview opportunities
Online pre-launch press briefing in English (Tuesday 21 May, 16:00 – 17:00 CEST)
EarthCare pre-launch press briefing and Q&A with:
Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes, ESA
Dirk Bernaerts, EarthCARE project manager and Acting Head Earth Explorers Division, ESA
Futoshi Takiguchi, Vice President and Director General for the Space Technology Directorate I, JAXA
Eiichi Tomita, EarthCARE/CPR Project Manager, JAXA
Maximilian Sauer, EarthCARE Project Manager, Airbus
Please register here for the English pre-launch online briefing by Monday 20th May.
Online Q&A sessions in German and French will also be available to members of the press after the English briefing upon request.
Launch media event at ESOC
Programme – Tuesday, 28 May 2024 (all times in CEST)
18:30 Arrival media
19:00 Media Briefing in Press Centre H05
20:00 Interview opportunities
20:30 Doors open for VIP event guests
21:00 VIP Stage programme starts in conference centre HI-VI
23:34 Start of ESA TV webcast
00:05 SpaceX live broadcast
00:20 Lift-off SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg, California, USA
00:30 Spacecraft deployment
01:12 Acquisition of signal
01:20 End of ESA TV webcast; end of stage programme in conference centre
01:30 Doors close
ESA spokespeople and experts, as well as spokespeople from Airbus and other partners, will be available on site for interviews including:
Dominique Gillieron, Head of Earth Observation Projects Department, ESA
Björn Frommknecht, EarthCARE Mission Manager, ESA
Thorsten Fehr, EarthCARE Mission Scientist, ESA
Kotska Wallace, EarthCARE Optical Payload Manager, ESA
Isabel Rojo, Head of EarthCARE Mission Operations, ESA
Mr. Futoshi Takiguchi, Vice President and Director General for the Space Technology Directorate, JAXA
Dr. Riko Oki, Director of the Earth Observation Research Center, JAXA
Albert Zaglauer, Head of Earth Observation programmes, Airbus
During the event, journalists will get live updates from the nearby ESA control rooms to which they will have limited temporary access too followed by interview opportunities with ESA operations and science experts for EarthCARE.
In the event of launch reschedule or delay, media will be informed of replanned activities via email in due course.
ESA Web TV
The launch event at ESOC will be streamed via ESA Web TV.
Please remember that journalists wishing to attend several of the opportunities mentioned above should register for each activity separately to ensure that they receive the right link/information for each event.
More Information on EarthCARE mission
Learn more about EarthCARE at https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/EarthCARE
Contact
ESA Newsroom and Media Relations
Email: [email protected] -
#34 by zubenelgenubi on 17 May, 2024 14:16
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In the absence of an announced NET launch date, NOTAMs, etc.; seeking insight...
https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/earthcare#launch
MLST (Mean Local Solar Time) on descending node = 14:00 ±5 minutes
Which first stage will be used for this launch? (semi-rhetorical question)
Falcon 9 first stages are apparently now cleared for use up to twenty times for non-human spaceflight missions, although that number is apparently more restricted for Cargo Dragon and Cygnus than these other payloads.
Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1075.11 Mar 191071.16 Apr 2NROL-146
1081.7 Apr 7
1061.21 May 2
1082.5 May 10 (maybe)
Edit May 27: It's B1081.7, skipping over B1075.11. -
#35 by GewoonLukas_ on 21 May, 2024 10:07
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Quote
#EarthCARE is not alone anymore at the launch site!
As these pics show, the satellite with the payload adaptor attached was moved and mated onto the launcher payload attach fitting.
@esa’s EarthCARE mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, no earlier than Tuesday 28 May 2024.
https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/1792814063744909791
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#36 by Ken the Bin on 23 May, 2024 15:43
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NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice.Quote from: NGA
230909Z MAY 24
NAVAREA XII 370/24(18).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
2215Z TO 2255Z DAILY 28 MAY THRU 03 JUN
IN AREA BOUND BY
30-48.00N 121-37.00W, 30-42.00N 121-27.00W,
30-42.00N 121-12.00W, 30-55.00N 120-56.00W,
31-10.00N 120-56.00W, 31-55.00N 121-05.00W,
31-55.00N 121-09.00W, 31-02.00N 121-38.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 032355Z JUN 24.//
NGA Space Debris notice.Quote from: NGA230858Z MAY 24
NAVAREA XII 369/24(17,19).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
2343Z TO 0016Z DAILY 28 MAY THRU 03 JUN
IN AREA BOUND BY
28-42.00N 145-12.00W, 28-16.00N 143-00.00W
45-31.00N 137-48.00W, 45-57.00N 140-34.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 040116Z JUN 24.// -
#37 by Galactic Penguin SST on 23 May, 2024 15:56
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NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice.
Quote from: NGA230909Z MAY 24
NAVAREA XII 370/24(18).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
2215Z TO 2255Z DAILY 28 MAY THRU 03 JUN
IN AREA BOUND BY
30-48.00N 121-37.00W, 30-42.00N 121-27.00W,
30-42.00N 121-12.00W, 30-55.00N 120-56.00W,
31-10.00N 120-56.00W, 31-55.00N 121-05.00W,
31-55.00N 121-09.00W, 31-02.00N 121-38.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 032355Z JUN 24.//
NGA Space Debris notice.Quote from: NGA230858Z MAY 24
NAVAREA XII 369/24(17,19).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
2343Z TO 0016Z DAILY 28 MAY THRU 03 JUN
IN AREA BOUND BY
28-42.00N 145-12.00W, 28-16.00N 143-00.00W
45-31.00N 137-48.00W, 45-57.00N 140-34.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 040116Z JUN 24.//
Area near the launch site seems to be closer to the coast than for Starlink launches, so...booster RTLS? -
#38 by OneSpeed on 24 May, 2024 00:23
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NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice.
Maps from the NGA notices. Fairing splashdown some 410km downrange, and second stage splashdown at one orbit.
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#39 by Galactic Penguin SST on 24 May, 2024 04:25
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