Launch diary Safe arrival at the launch facility for MetOp   MetOp upper-composite being lifted onto the train     11 October 2006   After its slow journey through the night, the upper-composite, which comprises the MetOp satellite and the Fregat upper-stage, safely arrived at the Soyuz launch preparation facility on Wednesday 11 October.   In preparation for the six-hour journey, the upper-composite was hermetically sealed and moved out of the Upper Composite Integration Facility (UCIF). In the outer hall it was lifted by crane and transferred to the train. This time the procedure to attach the upper-composite to the wagon ran perfectly and the precious cargo left MIK 112 at 21:30 on Tuesday 10 October, escorted by three MetOp team members.     The convoy reached MIK 40 near the launch pad in the morning of 11 October where it was carefully off-loaded by crane. Here the upper-composite will be mated with the third-stage of the Soyuz launcher.     Peter Edwards, ESA MetOp Project Manager said, "Following the satisfactory clearing-up of the earlier handling incident which delayed the first attempt to get the satellite to the launch pad, this time the transfer from the integration facility to the launch facility went extremely well. We are all looking forward the roll-out and then, next Tuesday, when MetOp, our “baby” and Europe's first polar orbiting weather satellite launches."     The fully assembled launcher will be rolled out and erected at the launch tower on Saturday 14 October, ready for launch on Tuesday 17 October.     Launch diary  •  MetOp launch status (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMTNI8A9HE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  Europe's first polar-orbiting weather satellite ready for launch (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEM7UVN7BTE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  Integration of MetOp upper-composite and third-stage complete (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMK4SV74TE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  MetOp encapsulated in fairing (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMXMFLKKSE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  MetOp integrated with Fregat upper-stage (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMWACVHESE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  MetOp launch campaign resumed (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMFZD8LURE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  MetOp to be launched in October (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMFM0JZBQE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  Launch of MetOp-A postponed (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMPPYAUQPE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  MetOp ready for launch (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMEXZDQMPE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  Upper-composite transferred to launcher integration facility (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMBFLWALPE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  Last-ever look at MetOp (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMXEHA6CPE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  MetOp joins Fregat upper-stage (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMZOGIO9PE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  MetOp fuelled and pressurised (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMDZRVT0PE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  MetOp-A gets green light for 17 July launch date (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMOGREFWOE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  MetOp – last phase of testing before launch (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMG70L8IOE_LPmetop_0.html)  •  MetOp satellite shipped to Baikonur on 18 April (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMIV1OFGLE_LPmetop_0.html) In depth  •  Soyuz launch vehicle (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESA_Permanent_Mission_in_Russia/SEMAM1X4QWD_0.html)  •  Baikonur (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESA_Permanent_Mission_in_Russia/SEMRSA1XDYD_0.html) Related links  •  EUMETSAT (http://www.eumetsat.int)  •  EADS-Astrium (http://www.space.eads.net/)  •  Starsem (http://www.starsem.com)  •  NOAA (http://www.noaa.gov)  •  CNES (http://www.cnes.fr/html/_455_.php)