The Mission Control Team at ESA's Space Operations Centre (ESOC) are now in intense training for the scheduled 10 September launch of GOCE, the Agency's Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer.

GOCE is scheduled for lift-off at 16:21 CEST, 10 September 2008, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome; the spacecraft arrived in Russia on 29 July on board an Antonov-124 cargo aircraft.

On 14 August, members of the Mission Control Team were on console in the Main Control Room at ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, for a 12-hour simulation of the mission's countdown and launch phases; the simulation included practicing immediate reactions in case of any unexpected problems with the ground segment or the spacecraft.

GOCE team supported by experts throughout ESOC
The overall Mission Control Team is led by Flight Operations Director Pier Paolo Emanuelli and comprises a dedicated 13-person Flight Control Team, joined by an extended team of engineers from Ground Operations, Flight Dynamics, Software Support, Computers and Network Support, and ground stations.

Additional expertise is provided from ESOC in the areas of training, documentation and facilities management.

GOCE will orbit at an exceptionally low altitude
"The GOCE mission team are receiving excellent support from our colleagues at ESOC. GOCE is a challenging mission and will orbit at an exceptionally low altitude of just 268 km, so spacecraft control is very critical. The simulations campaign is close to the end and we are fully ready to support the launch in September," said Emanuelli.

To achieve its mission objectives - mapping Earth's gravity field in unprecedented detail - the slender, 5m-long satellite is designed to orbit at a low altitude because the gravitational variations are stronger closer to Earth.

The GOCE team will undergo intensive training, simulations and work-ups between now and the launch, with a strong focus on practicing for LEOP - the Launch and Early Orbit phase - the crucial first steps in GOCE's mission beginning after the satellite separates from the launcher's upper-most stage.

One highlight of today's training will be establishing and testing the voice and data communication links between ESOC in Germany and the Launch Control Centre at Plesetsk, Russia.

The GOCE team conducted previous simulations in July and August, and have spent the past months defining and confirming procedures and plans covering all possible nominal and contingency situations.

Flight control team engineers have also been working intently to ensure that the ground segment - the computers and software here at ESOC - is ready to support the mission.

A full launch and LEOP rehearsal will be conducted on 5 September, just five days prior to launch.

related report
GOCE Mission Scientist: Interview with Mark Drinkwater
Mark Drinkwater has been involved with the design and development of the GOCE Earth Explorer mission since it was selected for implementation at the end of the 1990s.

As Mission Scientist, his role in supporting the mission preparations has been to ensure that the satellite and ground data processing systems are compatible with achieving the mission objectives, and in particular the oceanographic goals of the mission.

ESA: What has your responsibility been throughout the development of the GOCE mission?

Mark Drinkwater: As Mission Scientist I have been involved with GOCE since establishment of early concept feasibility, through formation of the Project and the Industrial design and development phase, and now ultimately the launch and early operations phase.

My responsibility has been to support of the early consolidation of the design and the satellite development phase, to ensure that GOCE is coherent with its primary mission objectives. During satellite commissioning we will also support the calibration and validation activities to help ensure that GOCE delivers the best quality data to the science community.

ESA: How important is it involving the science community with the development of a mission such as GOCE?

Mark Drinkwater: Maintaining the active involvement of external scientists is fundamental to ensuring that we meet the original intended objectives of each Earth Explorer mission - and in doing so fulfil the expectations of the scientific user community.

Throughout the GOCE preparations I have been responsible for managing the interface with the external science community and running the advisory body known as the GOCE Mission Advisory Group. This group has collectively dedicated a decade or more to ensuring we can achieve an effective balance between new technology and harnessing recent scientific progress.

Meanwhile, by organising and hosting International Workshops and publishing results of those preparations we have strived to engage and build a broad scientific user community which eagerly await GOCE data.

ESA: GOCE will exploit new technology in space but what have been the biggest challenges from a science perspective?

Mark Drinkwater: From the early GOCE mission concept, one of the principal challenges has been to launch scientific studies with which to assess the performance of the proposed suite of GOCE instruments, and to quantify the potential scientific benefits of its new measurement principles.

With the launch, the most significant new challenge will be to ensure that we effectively communicate the benefits of its gravity data, and that we prepare the science community and properly equip them for use of 'quality assured' data products.

ESA: How will GOCE advance our understanding of ocean circulation and why is this important?

Mark Drinkwater: Ocean circulation is a fundamental element of the global heat engine and is a key process to capture in climate forecast models. Currents transport large quantities of heat polewards from the Equator, and in doing so, keep Europe's climate relatively mild.

Together with more than 15 years of existing ESA ocean altimetry data, the new GOCE high-resolution reference geoid will help more accurately measure the role of ocean currents in transporting heat and water around the globe. Building on the original intent of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE), this powerful combination was one factor which helped to justify its namesake the GOCE mission.

ESA: What other benefits to science will GOCE bring?

Mark Drinkwater: As ESA's gravity mission, GOCE promises to deliver a number of unique firsts. Its high resolution gravity-gradient data promise to revolutionise our picture of Earth's gravity.

Unprecedented accuracy and resolution will enable other climate applications relating to accurate measurement of sea-level rise; studies of the physics of Earth's interior particularly in regions of natural earthquake and volcanic hazards; and in practical surveying and other geodetic applications.

ESA: Where will you be for launch?

Mark Drinkwater: I plan to attend the launch event at ESRIN. Together with international guests and Press, I relish the prospect of celebrating a successful opening of this first chapter of ESA's Living Planet Programme.