Author Topic: LIVE: SMOS and PROBA-2 Launch - November 2, 2009 (Read 38444 times)

anik · « **on:** 01/24/2007 03:49 pm »

Flight Model of the SMOS payload, built by EADS Astrium in Spain, ready for final testing at ESA
http://www.space.eads.net/press-center/press-releases/flight-model-of-the-smos-payload-built-by-eads-astrium-in-spain-ready-for-final-testing-at-esa

jacqmans · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/27/2007 11:32 am »

Testing starts on the SMOS payload at ESA-ESTEC in the Netherlands.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMN3N12Z0F_Netherlands_1.html

See also:
http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMZ59Q11ZE_index_0.html

jacqmans · « **Reply #2 on:** 06/08/2007 07:44 pm »

ESA's water mission instrument passes test programme

8 June 2007

After successfully undergoing a rigorous three-month testing programme, the innovative SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) payload is about to make its journey from ESA's Test Centre in the Netherlands to France, where it will join the platform to form the satellite in preparation for launch next year.

http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMN5JEVL2F_index_0.html

sammie · « **Reply #3 on:** 06/09/2007 12:50 am »

Sorry for the daft question. What are the pylon/triangular shaped objects in the testing enviroment for?

MKremer · « **Reply #4 on:** 06/09/2007 08:55 am »

Quote

sammie - 8/6/2007 7:50 PM

Sorry for the daft question. What are the pylon/triangular shaped objects in the testing enviroment for?

Similar to an audio anechoic chamber, but in this case designed for dampening EM rather than sound - the long pyramids are filled with a carbon/conductive compound and grounded.

anik · « **Reply #5 on:** 07/04/2007 02:51 pm »

The SMOS payload has been successfully mated on the PROTEUS platform
03 July 2007
http://www.thalesatm.com/Press-Room/Press-Release-search-all/Press-Release-search-result/Press-Release-Article.html?link=05525429-0203-3770-5300-4a357e42583a:central&locale=EN-gb&Title=The+SMOS+payload+has+been+successfully+mated+on+the+PROTEUS+platform&dis=1

sammie · « **Reply #6 on:** 08/12/2007 09:48 pm »

Successful PROBA 2 Mechanical Fitcheck conducted for ROCKOT Launch
24 July 2007
http://www.eurockot.com/alist.asp?cnt=20040936

anik · « **Reply #7 on:** 05/09/2008 07:19 am »

According to http://smsc.cnes.fr/SMOS/index.htm the launch is currently planned in April 2009.

Also, the quote from http://www.cesbio.ups-tlse.fr/us/indexsmos.html

"Opportunity mission scheduled for launch between april and july 2009"

anik · « **Reply #8 on:** 06/03/2008 05:35 pm »

SMOS Mission Agenda
http://smsc.cnes.fr/SMOS/GP_actualites.htm

July 2008 - Satellite Qualification Review
July 2008 to January 2009 - Storage of the Satellite in Thalès Alenia Space premise in Cannes
October 2008 - Launcher Final Mission Analysis Delta Review
October 2008 to February 2009 - In orbit Operations preparation
February 2009 - Mission Flight Acceptance Review, Operation Readiness Review
Mid February 2009 - Shipment of the Satellite to Plesetsk launch site
February 2009 to Mid April 2009 - Launch campaign at Plesetsk launch site
April 2009 - Launch acceptance review
Mid April 2009 - Launch

jacqmans · « **Reply #9 on:** 02/12/2009 12:06 pm »

Following word from Eurockot that launch of the Earth Explorer SMOS satellite can take place between July and October this year, ESA, CNES and the prime contractor Thales Alenia Space are now making detailed preparations for the last crucial steps before ESA's water mission is placed in orbit.

Read more at:

http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM4ZO05VQF_planet_0.html

jacqmans · « **Reply #10 on:** 04/27/2009 03:29 pm »

Following confirmation from Eurockot Launch Services that they will launch ESA's SMOS mission on 9 September this year, the satellite has just been taken out of storage – providing an opportunity for the media to view the satellite before it is prepared for shipment to the launch site in Russia.

Read more at:

http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMHHTANJTF_planet_0.html

jacqmans · « **Reply #11 on:** 05/28/2009 09:10 am »

SMOS ready to ship to launch site

28 May 2009
ESA's next Earth Explorer, SMOS, has just passed the all-important Flight Acceptance Review, signifying that all the elements that make up the mission are in place for launch later this year. The satellite can now be prepared for its journey to the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.

http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM9SE1OWUF_index_0.html

jacqmans · « **Reply #12 on:** 06/22/2009 06:31 pm »

Following an agreement between ESA, Krunichev Space Centre and Eurockot Launch Services, ESA's next Earth Explorer mission SMOS and a secondary payload, the technology demonstrator Proba-2 satellite, will now launch on 2 November 2009.

Read more at:

http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM54I0P0WF_planet_0.html

anik · « **Reply #13 on:** 07/06/2009 02:50 pm »

Proba-2's journey to Russia marks its first step towards space
2 July 2009

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM402S7NWF_index_0.html

Proba-2, one of the smallest satellites ESA has ever built for space, is about to leave its Belgian homeland. Its development and testing complete, the satellite is being packed up for the first leg of its journey to orbit - shipment to the distant Plesetsk launch site in northern Russia.

Proba-2 is second in ESA's Project for OnBoard Autonomy series, building on nearly eight years of operational experience gained with Proba-1. While standard satellites are truck-sized structures, the Proba satellites have a volume of less than one cubic metre. But this small scale does not limit their functionality: Proba-2 incorporates a total of 17 new technological developments and four scientific experiments, focused on solar and space weather observations.

Like Proba-1 before it, Proba-2 was constructed for ESA by Verhaert Design & Development in the East Flanders town of Kruibeke, with the support of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office. On Wednesday Belgian Minister for Science Policy Sabine Laruelle visited the company to bid farewell to the satellite and emphasise again the importance of space technology for the Belgian space policy.

“Proba-2 is the result of ESA's commitment to technological innovation,” said Director Courtois. “This mission is serving as a testbed for a variety of new space technologies. And the next two in the Proba series, the Proba-3 formation flying demonstrator and Proba-V vegetation monitoring mission, are already in preparation.”

"PROBA was developed under the ESA General Studies Technology Programme (GSTP), which fosters the development of flight hardware,” explained Frank Preud’homme, Verhaert Space Business Unit Manager. “This allowed Verhaert Space to build up satellite engineering capabilities and to attain a competitive position on the international market for small satellites."

David Berghmans of the Royal Observatory of Belgium briefed journalists on Proba-2's Sun-monitoring instruments: LYRA (Lyman-Alpha Radiator) is designed to measure solar irradiance in key ultraviolet bands, while SWAP (Sun Watcher using Active pixel detector and image Processing) will make ultraviolet observations of the corona around the Sun. Two further science instruments developed by a scientific consortium from the Czech Republic will detect the radiation and plasma environment around the spacecraft.

In-orbit technology testing supporting European competitiveness

The Proba series are part of ESA's GSTP In-orbit Technology Demonstration Programme: missions dedicated to the demonstration of innovative technologies. In orbit demonstration is the final step on the technology development ladder, proving new hardware has the 'right stuff' for ongoing use.

Such missions provide small and medium sized companies with rich operational experience essential for European industry to remain innovative and competitive.

As part of ESA's strategy to reduce mission costs the satellite will piggyback its way to orbit aboard the same Rockot launcher carrying ESA's full-sized Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) Earth Explorer satellite. The two are scheduled to launch from Plesetsk Cosmodrome on 2 November.

jacqmans · « **Reply #14 on:** 08/14/2009 03:30 pm »

Members of the SMOS team have just returned from Moscow after viewing components that make up the upper-composite of a Rockot launcher. The hardware is soon to be shipped to the launch site in readiness for liftoff at the beginning of November.

Read more at:

http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMM5N161YF_index_0.html

jacqmans · « **Reply #15 on:** 09/01/2009 03:09 pm »

With launch just two months away, members of the SMOS team are currently in Russia inspecting the facilities where the launch campaign will soon get underway to prepare the ESA's water mission for liftoff on 2 November.

Read more at:

http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMJF5I7KYF_index_0.html

anik · « **Reply #16 on:** 09/04/2009 06:59 pm »

http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=1272

PROBA-2 satellite has arrived to Plesetsk cosmodrome yesterday.

jacqmans · « **Reply #17 on:** 09/07/2009 02:00 pm »

Proba-2 has reached Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, where it is being prepared for launch this November. Among the smallest satellites ever built by ESA, it was transported there aboard an Ilyushin cargo plane.

Read more:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM0GLFF5ZF_index_0.html

anik · « **Reply #18 on:** 09/17/2009 05:14 pm »

http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=1303

SMOS satellite has arrived to Plesetsk cosmodrome yesterday.

jacqmans · « **Reply #19 on:** 09/18/2009 12:22 pm »

After leaving Thales Alenia Space in the south of France on 15 September, ESA’s SMOS Earth Explorer has arrived safely at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, where it will be prepared for launch on 2 November.

Read more at:

http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMI9ZFWNZF_index_0.html