Integral diary from our man in Baikonur

Integral_-_Philippe_Sivac.jpg
16 SEP. 2002 publication date 1027 Views

Philippe Sivac, responsible at ESA for Integral environmental testing, is even busier than usual as he has agreed to keep ESA Web Portal visitors posted on events at the Russian spaceport of Baikonur, in the run up to the Integral launch on Thursday, 17 October.

Philippe has been involved with Integral for nine years, almost since the beginning of the project. His job is to overlook all the tests on the satellite, which is why he is now at Baikonur to supervise the final checks that must take place before Integral receives the OK for launch. This is a very busy period and the culmination of almost 10 years of work for all those involved on the project.

Philippe has promised to take time out to keep us up to date, both in words and pictures, with Integral’s preparation for launch on board a Russian Proton rocket. The launch campaign commenced on 17 August with Integral’s arrival - by air – from Schipol in the Netherlands.

Check the links on the right to keep up to date on what is happening at Baikonur.


Related links

fallback image 6
View of the Russian side of the bunker
Proton being moving into the vertical position
The MMS in operation at Mar del Plata, Argentina

Related links

Artist's impression, showing Integral instruments
Fast-spinning neutron star

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