SMOS and Proba-2 ready for launch   ESA's SMOS and Proba-2 satellites are launched on a Rockot launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. Liftoff is at 02:50 CET (01:50 UT) on 2 November 2009.   Rehearsing the launch countdown in the Mission Control Centre in Plesetsk, Russia on 28 October.   The upper composite, which holds the SMOS and Proba-2 satellites, is hoisted to the top of the service tower and then onto the lower stages of the Rockot launcher. SMOS and Proba-2 were installed in the launch tower on 27 October.   SMOS will make global observations of soil moisture over land and sea-surface salinity over the oceans to improve our understanding of the water cycle. Data from SMOS will be important for weather and climate modelling, water resource management, agriculture and also contribute to the forecasting of hazardous events such as floods.   Proba-2 is flight-testing a total of 17 technology demonstrators for future ESA missions. It also serves as a scientific platform for solar and space weather observations. Release date: 19 January 2010