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Entry 13: GOCE team gearing up for new launch date
 
2 October 2008 – ESA and European industries have updated the planning of the preparatory activities for a new tentative launch date of 27 October 2008 for the GOCE satellite.
 
On 7 September, preparatory activities for the launch of GOCE from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia were stopped by Eurockot due to an anomaly identified in one of the units of the guidance and navigation subsystem of the launcher's Upper Stage Breeze KM.

Russian launcher authorities are completing the investigation of the Breeze KM failure and implementing the related corrective measures. The remaining activities on the launcher side and the subsequent combined operations with the satellite have led to a calculated launch date of Monday, 27 October 2008 at 15:21 CET.

Awaiting the final outcome of the failure investigations and the replacement of the affected units, the GOCE team has begun preparatory activities in line with the proposed launch date.  
 

 


Diary in picturesSolar cell inspection
GOCE launch diary
Entry 1: GOCE prepares for shipment to RussiaEntry 2: GOCE begins its journey to launch siteEntry 3: GOCE arrives safely at launch site in RussiaEntry 4: GOCE unpacked and alignment check completeEntry 5: GOCE checked for gas leaksEntry 6: Launch team reaches full strengthEntry 7: Gradiometer checked and launcher rolled out for testingEntry 8: GOCE satellite joins BreezeEntry 9: Last-ever look at GOCEEntry 10: GOCE on the launch padEntry 11: Launch of GOCE delayedEntry 12: Satellite activities resume 24 SeptemberEntry 14: GOCE launch postponedEntry 15: March launch planned for GOCEEntry 16: Team make ready to wake up GOCEEntry 17: GOCE revealed as container openedEntry 18: A busy weekEntry 19: GOCE meets launcher Upper StageEntry 20: EncapsulationEntry 21: On the launch padEntry 22: Launch rehearsedEntry 23: GOCE launched and in orbitEntry 24: Going home
In depth
Plesetsk
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