Entry 12: Satellite activities resume 24 September
9 September 2008 – Following the identification of an anomaly in the Rockot launcher’s Breeze-KM Upper Stage that consequently delayed the launch of GOCE, the Upper Composite will be transferred back to the preparation facilities at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome tomorrow.
Once in the clean room, the GOCE satellite will be taken out of the fairing half shells and dismantled from the launch vehicle adapter. The GOCE satellite’s sensitive elements will be protected by covers while the faulty unit in the Breeze KM is replaced.
Launch preparation activities are planned to resume on 24 September 2008 when the satellite will rejoin the Breeze KM Upper Stage for the new scheduled launch date of 5 October 2008.
In the meantime, most of the launch campaign team members are leaving Russia for a well-earned break so this will be the last diary entry until work resumes in a couple of weeks.
