N° 63–2002: ESA's Integral satellite ready for lift-off from Baikonur
4 October 2002
Follow the launch from one of the ESA establishments
ESA's INTEGRAL (International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) satellite, will be launched by a Proton launcher from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on 17 October at 06:41 CEST (Central European Summer Time).
The most sensitive gamma-ray observatory ever launched, INTEGRAL is a truly international mission involving all ESA member states plus the USA and Russia. It carries four instruments from teams led by scientists in Italy, France, Germany, Denmark and Spain to gather and analyse gamma-rays, X-rays and visible light from celestial objects.
INTEGRAL will give astronomers across the world their clearest views yet of the most extreme environments in the Universe. It will detect radiation from the most violent events far away and from processes that made the Universe inhabitable.
Media representatives in Europe can follow the videotransmission of the launch at ESA/Darmstadt (ESOC) in Germany, which will be acting as the main European press centre, ESA/Noordwijk (ESTEC) in the Netherlands, ESA/Frascati (ESRIN) in Italy or ESA/Villafranca (VILSPA) in Spain. At each site ESA specialists will be available for interviews.
Media representatives wishing to attend are requested to complete the attached reply form and fax it to the Communication Office at the establishment of their choice.
The ESA TV Service will provide video news releases and live coverage of the launch between 06:15-07:00 and 08:00-08:30 CEST. Details of the transmission schedule for the various Video News Releases can be found on http://television.esa.int
The launch can also be followed live on the internet at www.esa.int/integrallaunch starting at 06:15 hrs.
For further information, please contact :
ESA Media Relations Service
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690
INTEGRAL LAUNCH ACCREDITATION FORM- Launch on 17 October 2002
First name: ________________ Surname : _________________
Media : ________________________________________________
Address : _____________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Tel : ____________________ Fax : _______________________
Mobile : _________________ e-mail : ____________________
I will be attending the Integral launch event at the following site:
[ ]Germany:
Location: ESA/ESOC
Address: Robert-Bosch Strasse 5, Darmstadt, Germany
Opening hours: 05:30 – 09:00
Contact point: Jocelyne Landeau-Constantin
Tel:+49 6151 90 2696/2459
Fax: +49 6151 90 2961
Info line: +49 - 6151 - 90 26 09
[ ] The Netherlands
Location : Space Expo for ESA/ESTEC
Address: Keplerlaan 3, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Opening hours: 06.00 – 09.00
Contact point: Michel van Baal
Tel:+31 71 565 3006 during office hours
Tel: +31 71 36 46 446 during launch event (Space Expo)
Fax: +31 71 565 5728
Info line: +31. 71 565 8016
[ ]Italy
Location: ESA/ESRIN
Address: Via G. Galilei, Frascati (Rome), Italy
Opening hours: 06.00-07.00
Contact point: Franca Morgia
Tel:+39.06.9418.0951
Fax:+39.06.9418.0952
[ ] Spain
Location: ESA/VILSPA Satellite Station
Address: Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid
Villanueva de la Cañada (Madrid)
Opening hours: 05:00-07:30
Contact point: Valeriano Claros
Tel:+34. 91. 813.1111
Fax:+34.91.813.1212
Please complete the form and fax it to the site of your choice.
For further information:
ESA Media Relations Service
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690