ESA - GOCE - GOCE ready for launch

GOCE at a glance

The first of a series Looking into the forces that shape our planet A technological achievement An intimate portrait of Earth Facts and figures

About the spacecraft

Satellite Payload

About the launch

Launch overview Launcher After launch GOCE data

Meet the team

Danilo Muzi, Project Manager Rune Floberghagen, Mission Manager Reiner Rummel, Chairman Mission Advisory Group Mark Drinkwater, Mission Scientist Roger Haagmans, Mission Scientist Andrea Allasio, Thales Alenia Space Project Manager Michael Fehringer, System Manager Paolo Laberinti, Head of Verification and Testing Miguel Aguirre, Technical Officer for Definition Phase Daniel Lamarre, Gradiometer Engineer Juan Piñeiro, Spacecraft Operations Manager Stefano Capitanio, Launch Campaign Manager Pascal Gilles, Head of Earth Explorer Payload Data Ground Segment

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GOCE ready for launch

16 March 2009

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GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) is launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia by a modified Russian Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) SS-19 launcher called Rockot. The launch vehicle comprises the original two lower liquid propellant stages in conjunction with a dedicated third-stage called Breeze.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab

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The launch tower at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. The tower holds the Rockot launcher carrying ESA's gravity satellite GOCE ready to launch on Monday 16 March at 15:21 (CET) 14:21 (UT).

Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja, 2009

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ESA's Danilo Muzi, GOCE Project Manager (right) and Andrea Allasio, GOCE Project Manager for Thales Alenia Space, during launch rehearsal at Plesetsk, 13 March 2009.

Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja, 2009

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Around three minutes after launch the two half shells of the fairing, which encapsulate the GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) satellite, are opened and released.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab

GOCE launch

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The story in pictures Launch diary