In addition to its news coverage of the MetOp-A launch, ESA documented the behind-the-scenes events in a launch diary to provide readers with a unique view of the launch process. The launch diary begins with the satellite’s arrival at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in April then documents the scheduled inspections and events in preparation for the launch, first in July, with various launch attempts, and then again in October, providing up-to-the-minute updates and details on its successful launch on 19 October 2006.
