Entry 5: SMOS fuelled


Ready for fuelling
 
Ready for fuelling
 
 
8 October 2009 - The hazardous task of fuelling the SMOS satellite with 28 kg of hydrazine propellant has been completed. The team from Thales Alenia Space carried out this important part of the launch campaign yesterday. They wore special protective clothing called a Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE).
 
Always a hazardous operation, the spacecraft was pressurised to the final value of 19 bars. Then the fuelling equipment had to be completely decontaminated and removed from the cleanroom.
  
 
Thales fuelling team
   
Thales fuelling team
 
Since it is such a dangerous operation, only selected team members were allowed to remain in the facility so the rest of the team stayed back at the hotel. However, today the cleanroom is back to normal and activities focus on preparations to install SMOS on the launch adapter prior to encapsulation.

In the meantime, the electrical tests on the launch vehicle were completed at the launch pad.
 
 
  
Last update: 8 October 2009

 •  Diary in pictures (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEMVGDW0EZF_mg_1.html)

SMOS launch diary

 •  Entry 1: SMOS launch campaign begins (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEM121KIWZF_0.html)
 •  Entry 2: SMOS arrives safely at Plesetsk (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEMNR0KIWZF_0.html)
 •  Entry 3: SMOS unpacked and checked out (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEMFQYWRA0G_0.html)
 •  Entry 4: Green light to fuel (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEMYM6XRA0G_0.html)
 •  Entry 6: SMOS joins rocket adapter (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEM386YRA0G_0.html)
 •  Entry 7: SMOS mated to launcher upper stage (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEMXJZYRA0G_0.html)
 •  Entry 8: SMOS encapsulated in fairing (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEMKTAZRA0G_0.html)
 •  Entry 9: Fairing logo signed (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEMOHHZRA0G_0.html)
 •  Entry 10: SMOS in the launch tower (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEM9SYZRA0G_0.html)
 •  Entry 11: Launch countdown rehearsed (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEM61N4AD1G_0.html)
 •  Entry 12: Ready for launch! (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEM8K4CUE1G_0.html)
 •  Entry 13: Launch milestones (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/smos/SEMIF6CUE1G_0.html)

In depth

 •  Proba missions (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Proba/index.html)
 •  Plesetsk (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESA_Permanent_Mission_in_Russia/SEMSNR0XDYD_0.html)

Related links

 •  Eurockot (http://www.eurockot.com/)
 •  Thales Alenia Space (http://www.thalesgroup.com/)