Pre-Launch Sequence

INNER PLANETS

Venus Express' Pre-Launch Sequence

The Venus Express spacecraft pre-launch sequence was executed on 6 November, bring the spacecraft one step closer to launch.

Baikonur, Kazakhstan (ESA) Nov 07, 2005
After the completion of the activities of 5 November, the first day on the launch pad, the spacecraft was switched-off, and only a small "baby-sitting" team remained in the bunker over night to be able to cover any contingency situations.

6 November started with the arrival of the countdown team at the Venus Express bunker next to the launch pad at 10:00 (04:00 UTC) in the morning. Preparations of all bunker EGSE were performed, and the final switch-on of the Spacecraft was done at 12:00 (06:00UTC) - this means that from now on until lift-off the spacecraft will not be switched-off.

In the course of the day the pre-launch sequence was executed, which already includes a large part of the configuration work to be done to achieve full launch readiness, for example: setting of unit-internal switches/relays; uploading of software patches; or adjusting of the spacecraft telemetry bit-rate to be used for LEOP (Low Earth Operations Phase).

In parallel with the activities of the past days the flight control team at ESOC has been performing "listen-in tests" to verify that the ground equipment at ESOC is capable to receive Spacecraft life telemetry via the data links that have been established between the bunker in Baikonur and the MOC (Mission Operations Centre) at ESOC.

Through these links the flight control team at ESOC will be following the final preparations of the Spacecraft during tomorrow's launch dress rehearsal as well as during the actual launch countdown, before they finally take over control of the Spacecraft after its separation from the Fregat upper stage.

INNER PLANETS

New Launch Date For Venus Express

Baikonur, Kazakhstan (ESA) Nov 03, 2005
On Monday 31 October, following a final cleaning and inspection of the Venus Express Spacecraft, the payload fairing of the Soyuz launch vehicle was installed again after it had been removed just a week before after the discovery of contaminants.