Part 1: 18 - 23 June
18-19 June
The MSG-2 Launch Team arrived in French Guiana over the weekend to start the preparations for the campaign.
Monday 20 June
Today work started to prepare for the satellite’s arrival at Europe’s Spaceport, like the S5-C acceptance review, network set-up, crane training, and unpacking of the boxes containing the documentation and personal belongings that arrived separately from the satellite.
S5-C is the building where the satellite arrives after its journey from Europe and where it will remain for health, functional and performance checks following transport from Cannes.
Tuesday 21 June
This morning the Antonov-124, the world’s largest commercial cargo aircraft, lifted off from Nice airport with the MSG-2 satellite onboard, heading for Cayenne. The satellite was accompanied by three team members from prime contractor Alcatel ), to monitor the spacecraft during transport.
The Antonov-124 landed in French Guiana at 16.00 hours local time ( + 5 hours CEST). After arrival the Mechanical and Electrical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE, EGSE) containers and the satellite container were unloaded for transport to the Spaceport. The spacecraft left the airport at 20:00 hours local time, to arrive in Kourou S5-C building at 23:30… together with an impressive rain shower!
Wednesday 22 June
Before opening the satellite container it was carefully cleaned. This was followed by a visual inspection, after which MSG-2 was removed from the container and installed on its trolley in order to be moved into the clean room around 15:00. MSG-2 is now in S5-C clean-room, ready to start the tests to confirm its health after transport.
Thursday 23 June
Spacecraft inspection has been performed and no anomalies were detected after the 7200 km flight from Europe to South America. After cleaning of the racks, the set-up of Electrical Ground Supply Equipment (EGSE) in clean room and checkout room has started.
