ESA - SMOS - SMOS satellite joins launch adapter

SMOS at a glance

An Earth Explorer Mapping soil moisture and ocean salinity Improving our understanding of the water cycle Introducing a novel use of technology Facts and figures

About the satellite

Platform Instrument

About the launch

Launch site Launcher

SMOS in orbit

After liftoff Data

Meet the team

Achim Hahne, Project Manager Susanne Mecklenburg, Mission Manager Matthias Drusch, Mission Scientist Jordi Font, Co-Lead Investigator Yann Kerr, Co-Lead Investigator Manuel Martin-Neira, Instrument Principal Engineer Guillermo Buenadicha, Payload Operations Engineer Andrés Borges, EADS CASA Espacio Payload Project Manager Roger Jegou, Launch Campaign Manager Norrie Wright, Payload Data Ground Segment Manager

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SMOS satellite joins launch adapter

14 October 2009

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The SMOS satellite about to join the Rockot launch adapter on 10 October at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.

Credits: ESA

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Around 70 minutes after liftoff, SMOS is released by the launch vehicle’s Breeze upper stage, placing the satellite in orbit around Earth. Shortly after separation the platform's two solar wings are deployed.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab

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Closing the hydrazine drum after fuelling

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Closing the hydrazine drum after fuelling the SMOS satellite on 7 October.

Credits: ESA

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The SMOS satellite being hoisted from the fuelling stand and onto the adapter that connects the satellite to the Rockot launcher. Since the satellite has already been filled with fuel, this operation is quite dangerous.

Credits: ESA

SMOS launch