The SMOS and Proba-2 lift off, on November 2, 2009, at 02:50 CET (01:50 UT) from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. The successful launch occurred via a Rokot rocket that carried the two European satellites into space.
‘The launch of the Rokot rocket carrying SMOS and Proba-2 satellites made for the European Space Agency was successful,’ a Russian space official was quoted as saying. SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) is due to collect radio signals emitted by water cells on the Earth’s surface, allowing it to determine changes in the water cycle due to global warming and other climate changes. The satellite will provide maps of soil humidity from its 758-kilometre-high orbit, as well as measure ocean salinity with its 69 linked antennas. Proba-2 is part of the Project for Onboard Autonomy, and is due to test space equipment in real spaceflight conditions.
ORIGINAL ITEM:
The Russian State Commission has given the go-ahead to fuel the Rockot launcher that will take ESA‘s SMOS and Proba-2 satellites into orbit. This formal authorization confirms the launch can take place on November 2nd at 02:50 CET (01:50 UT).
The go-ahead to fuel follows the launch dress rehearsal, which took place in the Mission Control Centre near the Plesetsk launch site on October 28th. The rehearsal involved running a simulated launch countdown sequence in conjunction with operation centres at the French space agency CNES in Toulouse, France, and ESA‘s European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Villafranca, Spain, for SMOS and ESA’s ground station in Redu, Belgium, for Proba-2.
The State Commission’s confirmation of readiness to fuel marks one of the last important milestones on the road to launch SMOS and Proba-2. Both satellites have been several years in the making and, with launch now confirmed, their missions to advance science and technology will soon begin. The SMOS mission, also known as ‘ESA’s water mission’ will employ a new use of technology to measure the moisture in soil and salinity in the surface waters of the oceans. The data will improve our understanding of the water cycle and be important for weather and climate modelling, water resource management, agriculture and also contribute to the forecasting of hazardous events such as floods. ESA’s Project Manager for Proba-2, Karsten Strauch, said, “Proba-2 is the second mission in ESA’s In-Orbit Demonstration Programme, which is dedicated to demonstrating innovative technologies. Looking forward to its launch and operations phase, I want to express my thanks to all involved so far in this marvellous Proba project.” Proba-2 is the second Project for Onboard Autonomy mission. As a technology demonstrator, it incorporates a total of 17 new technical developments and four scientific experiments, focused on solar and space weather observations.
