* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

Rokot SL-19 Rocket Body Re-entry

Blobrana · L

A Rokot SL-19 Rocket Body from a Russian SS-19 ballistic missile launcher, that was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome on the 17th March 2009, for the GOCE mission, is predicted to re-enter the Earths atmosphere on the 1st May 2009 @ 06:09 GMT ± 48 Hours

Period:          88.43
Inclination:    96.64°
Apogee:        213
Perigee:        180
Revolution Number:    719
Predicted Location:     40.8° N, 5.3° E

Blobrana · L

RE: GOCE satellite

Blobrana · L

What's the story behind GOCE?

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GOCE: Why gravity matters!

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GOCE launch highlights: The launch

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Blobrana · L

GOCE's highly sensitive gradiometer instrument has been switched on and is producing data. Forming the heart of GOCE, the gradiometer is specifically designed to measure Earth's gravity field with unprecedented accuracy.

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Blobrana · L

GOCE's sophisticated electric ion propulsion system has been switched on and confirmed to be operating normally, marking another crucial milestone in the satellite's post-launch commissioning phase.
The success of GOCE's ultra-sensitive gravity measurements depends on finely controlling the satellite's orbit and speed. The push from the thruster must be just enough to compensate for the tiny amount of drag generated by the few wisps of atmosphere at GOCE's orbital height.

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Blobrana · L

16 March 2009
This afternoon, ESA's Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite was due to be launched by a Russian Rockot vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia.
However, the launch operations were stopped a few seconds before scheduled liftoff as the doors of the launch service tower did not open. Due to this anomaly, the tower was held in position and did not move back as required for a launch.
Source

Blobrana · L

ESA's GOCE satellite was formally declared ready for work at 01:00 CET on 20 March. During the critical Launch and Early Orbit Phase beginning with separation from its booster on 17 March, GOCE was checked out to confirm that all of its control systems are operating normally.

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Blobrana · L

Gravity Ocean Circulation Explorer

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Blobrana · L

ESA is now gearing up to return to Russia to oversee preparations for the launch of its GOCE satellite - now envisaged for launch on 16 March 2009. This follows implementation of the corrective measures after the anomaly with the Rockot launcher that delayed the launch of GOCE by Eurockot Launch Services last October.
An advance party from ESA has just arrived at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia to arrange logistical matters while the team of engineers will arrive in mid-February.
The five metre-long GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer) satellite has been in storage at the launch site since last October. Once the team of ESA and Thales Alenia Space engineers arrive, work will begin preparing the satellite for launch. As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space has led an all-European consortium of over 40 companies to build the GOCE satellite.

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