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Proba-2 Flies Into Its Russian Launch Site
Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia (SPX) Sep 08, 2009 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. Proba-2 is a mission of ESA's General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) , building on almost eight years of operational experience gained with Proba-1. While standard satellites are lorry-sized structures, the Probas occupy less than a cubic metre. But this small scale does not limit their capabilities: Proba-2 carries a total of 17 new technology developments and four scientific experiments, focused on solar and space weather observations. Proba-2 and its support equipment were safely packed in a container for the trans-continental journey. The satellite was accompanied throughout its trip by five members of the Verhaert Space team responsible for its assembly, as well as by ESA's Proba-2 system engineer, Kristof Gantois. Proba-2 left its Belgian homeland on Thursday 27 August, taking off from Brussels Airport at 08:50 CEST. After a four-hour flight, the Volga Airlines-operated Ilyushin touched down at Archangelsk in the far north of European Russia for customs clearance. It took off again at 17:00 local time for the second and final leg of the flight, to Plesetsk Cosmodrome located due south. This 200 km journey took half an hour. The plane was met by a welcoming committee from the Russian military space forces, Khrunichev and Eurockot - the companies running the Plesetsk launch facilities and Rockot launcher, respectively - as well as the ESA team already on site. Within 30 minutes, the Proba-2 container was unloaded and placed on a lorry for its final trip of the day: the three-and-a-half hour drive from Plesetsk's airport to the clean room of the 'MIK' integration facility. Unpacking the satellite and preparing equipment began the following day.
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Related Links Proba Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com
Eutelsat Statement On Launch Of W7 SatelliteParis, France (SPX) Sep 08, 2009 Eutelsat Communications has announced that it has signed a contract with International Launch Services (ILS) for the launch in mid-November 2009 of the W7 satellite on an ILS Proton. Built by Thales Alenia Space, the satellite will now undergo final preparation for delivery to the Baikonour Cosmodrome. Originally scheduled for launch by Sea Launch, this selection of Proton follows the ... read more |
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