ESA - GOCE - Entry 5: GOCE checked for gas leaks

GOCE at a glance

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About the spacecraft

Satellite Payload

About the launch

Launch overview Launcher After launch GOCE data

Meet the team

Danilo Muzi, Project Manager Rune Floberghagen, Mission Manager Reiner Rummel, Chairman Mission Advisory Group Mark Drinkwater, Mission Scientist Roger Haagmans, Mission Scientist Andrea Allasio, Thales Alenia Space Project Manager Michael Fehringer, System Manager Paolo Laberinti, Head of Verification and Testing Miguel Aguirre, Technical Officer for Definition Phase Daniel Lamarre, Gradiometer Engineer Juan Piñeiro, Spacecraft Operations Manager Stefano Capitanio, Launch Campaign Manager Pascal Gilles, Head of Earth Explorer Payload Data Ground Segment

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Into container to check for gas leaks

Entry 5: GOCE checked for gas leaks

13 August 2008 – With just 24 days to go before lift-off (L-24), the launch campaign continues to run smoothly. The team has used free time to enjoy a game of football and a drink together.

Over the last few days one of the main activities has been to check that the satellite is leak proof. In order to carry out these tests the spacecraft needs to be pressurised with helium and xenon gas. In fact, the spacecraft had been loaded with xenon a year ago, but prior to these tests the satellite nitrogen system was pressurised with helium. GOCE was placed in its container for 24 hours to check and see if any of the gases could be detected in the air inside the container. Samples to check for xenon have been taken and will be analysed by means of gas spectronomy at the Physical Chemistry and Institute in Moscow. The helium-gas concentration was checked in Plesetsk and found to be within limits.

The next step is to move the satellite from the transport container and position it on the multipurpose trolley again to vent the helium and carry out the final loading of nitrogen. After that, there will be a detailed inspection of the solar array, which will be performed by an expert from EADS Astrium Germany. This activity will run in parallel to the first electrical tests on the satellite.


	Time out to play football

The launch campaign doesn't mean all work and no play though. At the weekend there was a football match between the GOCE team (pictured in the dark blue/yellow strip) and Russian military (light blue/white strip). Lead by the Commander of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, the Russians won outright scoring 12 goals against the GOCE team's 2 goals. Drinks followed as well as a decision to make time for some more sports events in the coming weeks!

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Diary in pictures

GOCE launch diary

Entry 1: GOCE prepares for shipment to Russia Entry 2: GOCE begins its journey to launch site Entry 3: GOCE arrives safely at launch site in Russia Entry 4: GOCE unpacked and alignment check complete Entry 6: Launch team reaches full strength Entry 7: Gradiometer checked and launcher rolled out for testing Entry 8: GOCE satellite joins Breeze Entry 9: Last-ever look at GOCE Entry 10: GOCE on the launch pad Entry 11: Launch of GOCE delayed Entry 12: Satellite activities resume 24 September Entry 13: GOCE team gearing up for new launch date Entry 14: GOCE launch postponed Entry 15: March launch planned for GOCE Entry 16: Team make ready to wake up GOCE Entry 17: GOCE revealed as container opened Entry 18: A busy week Entry 19: GOCE meets launcher Upper Stage Entry 20: Encapsulation Entry 21: On the launch pad Entry 22: Launch rehearsed Entry 23: GOCE launched and in orbit Entry 24: Going home

In depth

Plesetsk