The State Commission is composed of the Russian launch authorities (all parties involved in the launch operations, such as the Soyuz, Fregat, range safety, launch-pad operations and meteorology) as well as representatives of the Venus Express team.
In the presence of representatives of the Venus Express spacecraft team, also representing the ESA flight control team at ESOC, Germany, and after a session of only 15 minutes, the State Commission authorised the propellant loading of the launch vehicle to commence.
The launcher fuelling started at 01:00 CET and is planned to be completed about one and a half hours before lift-off, planned for 04:33 CET.
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| • | Looking at Venus (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/index.html) |
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Launch replay
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| • | Venus Express launch (mms://esawms.cdnetworks.net/esawms/wmv/Venus_Express_launch_low.wmv) |
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Related articles
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| • | Venus Express performs flawlessly, LEOP complete (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEMK9UJBWFE_0.html) |
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| • | Venus Express mission operations update (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESOC/SEM780738FE_0.html) |
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| • | "Venus Express, give me a GO/NO GO for launch..." (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEM6SV638FE_0.html) |
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| • | Venus Express: ready for lift-off (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEMAWL638FE_0.html) |
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| • | Venus Express countdown activities started (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEM93L638FE_0.html) |
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| • | Venus Express moved back to launch pad (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEM24K638FE_0.html) |
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| • | Venus Express set for transport to launcher assembly building (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEM1BB6Y3EE_0.html) |
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| • | Venus Express mated with upper-stage (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEMTYW5Y3EE_0.html) |
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More about...
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| • | Status reports (http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31575 &farchive_objecttypeid=30 &farchive_objectid=30930) |
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| • | Launch in detail (http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31574 &farchive_objecttypeid=31 &farchive_objectid=30928) |
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| • | Venus Express factsheet (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEM2EE1A6BD_0.html) |
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Related links
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| • | Starsem - the Soyuz (http://www.starsem.com/) |
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| • | Venus Express operations (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM7QMQJNVE_0.html) |
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| • | Cebreros station webcam (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM26DSMTWE_0.html) |
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