CryoSat-2 launch timeline
A timeline of the most critical events around the launch of ESA's CryoSat-2 satellite, scheduled for 15:57 CEST on Thursday, 8 April 2010.
CryoSat-2 will be placed into orbit 717 km above Earth by a Russian Dnepr rocket launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
About 16 minutes after launch, scheduled for 15:57 CEST, CryoSat-2 will separate from the upper stage of the booster. Just a few seconds later, the satellite's radio transmitter will automatically come to life and start sending a signal to ground.
Mission controllers at ESOC, ESA's European Space Operations Centre, will watch carefully for receipt of the signals, which are expected, first, via the tracking station at Malindi, Kenya, starting at 16:14 CEST, and, second, via the Troll station, Antarctica, starting at 16:28 CEST.
Timeline - launch activities 8 April 2010
- All times subject to change
- Event may not happen at the precise time stated; time indicated may be start/end of a time slot
- The mission clock starts when the launcher switches to internal inertial control, 4 seconds before liftoff
- Tracking stations: Malindi (Kenya), Troll (Antarctica), Svalbard (Norway), Kiruna (Sweden)
- LCC: Launch Control Centre at Baikonur || AOS: acquisition of signal
| Time (CEST) |
Mission time | Event |
| 07:57:00 | -08:00:00 | Start of countdown |
| 09:57:00 | -06:00:00 | Spacecraft switch-on |
| 13:57:00 | -02:00:00 | ESA Mission Control Team on console in ESOC/Main Control Room |
| 14:17:00 | -01:40:00 | Satellite in Launch Mode |
| 15:07:00 | -00:50:00 | Command from LCC to switch to internal power |
| 15:07:00 | -00:50:00 | ESA Mission Control Team confirms GO for launch |
| 15:17:00 | -00:38:00 | LCC announces "CryoSat-2 GO for launch" |
| 15:37:00 | -00:20:00 | Launch teams evacuate silo area |
| 15:42:00 | -00:15:00 | Start of launcher automated sequence |
| 15:52:00 | -00:05:00 | Last possibility for launch abort by ESA |
| 15:54:00 | -00:03:00 | LCC reports "Dnepr GO for launch" |
| 15:54:04 | -00:02:56 | START button pressed at LCC |
| 15:56:05 | -00:00:55 | "Launch readiness 1 minute" from LCC |
| 15:57:00 | +00:00:00 | Launcher switches to internal inertial control |
| 15:57:05 | +00:00:05 | Engine ignition; launcher lift-off |
| 15:58:50 | +00:01:50 | First stage separation |
| 16:02:09 | +00:05:09 | Payload fairing separation |
| 16:02:54 | +00:05:54 | Second stage separation |
| 16:13:43 | +00:16:28 | CryoSat-2 separation |
| 16:13:47 | +00:16:41 | CryoSat S-band radio transmitter switch ON |
| 16:14:00 | +00:17:00 | Malindi station: expected acquisition of signal (AOS) |
| 16:28:11 | +00:31:11 | Troll station AOS |
| 17:23:13 | +01:26:13 | Svalbard station AOS |
| 17:26:31 | +01:26:31 | Kiruna station AOS |
ESA's ice mission 
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