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ЦитироватьDutchSpace ‏@DutchSpace  (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace) · 3 hours ago (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/818781448375255040)

Nice to see #Sentinel2b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2b?src=hash) of our @ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) friends has arrived #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) #CSG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSG?src=hash)

ЦитироватьJanuary 10, 2017
Europe's Sentinel-2B arrives for its Arianespace Vega launch in March
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223091.jpg)
The protective container with Sentinel-2B emerges from the cargo jetliner during unloading activity at Félix Eboué International Airport near Cayenne.

Sentinel-2B has touched down in French Guiana, bringing the second satellite for Europe's Copernicus program closer to its early March orbiting by Arianespace on a Vega lightweight launch vehicle.
                            
Arriving at Félix Eboué Airport near Cayenne last week, Sentinel-2B was delivered by a chartered Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner. Following its unloading process, the satellite was readied for transfer by road to the Spaceport.
As a follow-on to Sentinel-2A – lofted by another Vega in 2015 – this latest spacecraft will become part of the European Union's Earth observation satellite fleet called Copernicus. The program's goals are the provision of information for agricultural and forestry practices, assisting the management of food security, tracking pollution in lakes and coastal waters, along with delivering disaster mapping and helping humanitarian relief efforts.

 

Vega launches for Sentinel-2B and -2A

The Sentinel-2 satellites result from a close collaboration involving the European Space Agency, the European Commission, service providers and data users. The mission was designed and built by a consortium of some 60 companies led by Airbus Defence and Space, with support from the CNES French space agency to optimize image quality and by the DLR German Aerospace Center to improve data recovery using optical communications.
Since Arianespace's launch of Sentinel-2A in June 2015, the forerunner spacecraft has been providing imagery for the European Union Copernicus Land Monitoring Service and others.
After Sentinel-2B is orbited by Arianespace on Flight VV09 – signifying the ninth mission performed by the lightweight Vega launcher – the satellite constellation will cover the globe every five days.

A larger version of the image above is available for downloading from the gallery (http://www.arianespace.com/gallery/).

European Space Agency website: www.esa.int (http://www.esa.int)
European Union: www.copernicus.eu (http://www.copernicus.eu)
Airbus Defence and Space website: www.airbusdefenceandspace.com (http://www.airbusdefenceandspace.com)

ЦитироватьThe mission mainly provides information for agriculture and forestry and for helping to manage food security. Satellite images are used to determine key information about plants, such as chlorophyll and water content. This is particularly important for predicting yields effectively and applications related to Earth's vegetation.

As well as monitoring plant growth, the mission maps change in land cover and monitors the world's forests. It also provides information on pollution in lakes and coastal waters.

Now in the cleanroom at Europe's spaceport, Sentinel-2B is already on its stand for the start of a seven-week campaign to test and prepare it to be lofted into orbit on a Vega rocket.

Sentinel-2B is scheduled for liftoff on 7 March at 01:49 GMT (02:49 CET; 22:49 local time on 6 March).

ЦитироватьJanuary 18, 2017
Preparations move ahead for Arianespace's first Vega launch of 2017 fr om the Spaceport
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223088.jpg)
The P80 first stage for Arianespace's Flight VV09 is rolled out to the Spaceport's SLV launch site, where the Vega launcher will be assembled.

Activity for Arianespace's initial mission in 2017 with the lightweight Vega is fully underway in French Guiana, where the launch vehicle's build-up is starting and its Sentinel-2B payload has begun the pre-flight checkout process in preparation for an early March liftoff.
                            
This Vega mission is part of another busy year for Arianespace's launch services, with a total of 12 flights targeted during the 12 months from French Guiana using its family of vehicles, composed of Vega in the light-lift category, the medium-lift Soyuz, and the heavy-weight Ariane 5.
Current planning – to be confirmed based on payload availability – foresees up to seven Ariane 5 launches during the year, joined by three missions utilizing Vega and two with Soyuz.

 

Fast-paced launch activity in the first months of 2017

Arianespace's reactivity will be demonstrated by the six flights targeted during a three-month timeframe from January 27 (when the year's first mission will lift off, using a Soyuz to orbit a telecommunications satellite) through the second half of April.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/222935.jpg) (http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1-17-2017-VV09-lg2.jpg)
Sentinel-2B is undergoing its pre-launch checkout in the Spaceport's S1B payload processing facility.
 
The upcoming Vega mission – designated Flight VV09 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system – will be included in this busy period.
During activity for Flight VV09, the Vega's P80 first stage was rolled out this week to the Spaceport's SLV launch site, wh ere the vehicle will be built up on the launch pad. The P80 stage incorporates one of largest single-unit, solid-propellant rocket engines ever built using filament winding technology.
Standing almost 11 meters tall, and with a diameter of three meters, the P80 has an overall mass of 95 metric tons and burns approximately 88 tons of solid propellant in slightly less than two minutes. The P80 generates 300 tons of thrust to power Vega during its initial ascent from French Guiana.
Italy's Avio Group, through the ELV subsidiary, is responsible for Vega's development and manufacturing, with the vehicle being evolved in a European Space Agency (ESA) sponsored program since June 1998.

 

Vega's Flight VV09 to expand the Copernicus satellite fleet

The Sentinel-2B payload to be lofted by Flight VV09 will join the European Union's Earth observation satellite fleet called Copernicus. This spacecraft currently is being readied in the Spaceport's S1B payload processing facility.
Goals of the Copernicus program are the provision of information for agricultural and forestry practices, assisting the management of food security, tracking pollution in lakes and coastal waters, along with delivering disaster mapping and helping humanitarian relief efforts.
Arianespace orbited the Sentinel-2A satellite in June 2015 on another Vega mission, with this forerunner spacecraft providing imagery for the European Union Copernicus Land Monitoring Service and others.
Development of the Sentinel-2 satellites results from a close collaboration involving the European Space Agency, the European Commission, service providers and data users. Airbus Defence and Space led consortium of some 60 companies in designing the mission and building the spacecraft, supported by the CNES French space agency in optimizing image quality and by the DLR German Aerospace Center in improving data recovery using optical communications.

Larger versions of the images above are available for downloading from the gallery (http://www.arianespace.com/gallery/).

Avio Group website: www.avio.com/en/vega/ (http://www.avio.com/en/vega/)
European Space Agency website: www.esa.int (http://www.esa.int)
European Union's Copernicus website: www.copernicus.eu (http://www.copernicus.eu)
Airbus Defence and Space website: www.airbusdefenceandspace.com (http://www.airbusdefenceandspace.com)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29242.jpg) DutchSpace ‏@DutchSpace  (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace)  2 ч.2 часа назад (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/826448699702272005)
Nice shot of @ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) #Sentinel2B (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2B?src=hash) inside S1B before being moved to S3B for fueling #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) #Copernicus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Copernicus?src=hash) #CSG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSG?src=hash)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156627.jpg)

ЦитироватьJanuary 31, 2017
Parallel preparations keep the Spaceport on track with Arianespace's 2017 launch cadence
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156634.jpg)
The Vega for an early March liftoff undergoes the stacking of its solid propellant stages.

 

Preparing for Vega's first launch in 2017

At the Spaceport's third operational launch facility – the ZLV launch site – a lightweight Vega is taking shape for an early March liftoff with the Sentinel-2B Earth observation satellite, which is to enhance Europe's Copernicus Earth observation program. Arianespace will orbit the spacecraft on behalf of the European Commission, within the scope of a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA).
The Vega has completed the initial phase of its build-up, involving stacking of this vehicle's three solid-propellant propulsion systems: the P80 first stage, Zefiro 23 second stage and Zefiro 9 third stage. It will be "topped off" with the AVUM liquid-propellant fourth stage, serving as a maneuverable injection module for payload deployment.
Arianespace's March mission is designated Flight VV09, signifying the ninth launch of a Vega from the Spaceport, and another of its deliveries to Sun-synchronous orbit.

ЦитироватьFuelling Sentinel-2B
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225378.jpg)

[/li]
• Title Fuelling Sentinel-2B
• Released 07/02/2017 5:10 pm
• Copyright                                                                               CNES
• Description
  Sentinel-2B being fuelled at Europe's spaceport in French Guiana. This is an extremely hazardous and delicate task, special protective suits have to be worn.
  

Цитировать...
Sentinel-2B will be lofted into orbit by a Vega rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 01:49 GMT (02:49 CET) on 7 March, and teams at ESA's mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, will be watching closely.

This will be the fifth Sentinel satellite that goes into space under ESA control.
...

Цитировать16/02/2017 9:44 am

Sentinel-2B satellite being encapsulated within the half-shells of the Vega rocket fairing, at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Liftoff is set for on 7 March at 01:49 GMT (02:49 CET; 22:49 local time on 6 March).

Offering 'colour vision' for Europe's environmental monitoring Copernicus programme, Sentinel-2 combines high-resolution and novel multispectral capabilities to monitor Earth's changing lands in unprecedented detail and accuracy.

Sentinel-2 is designed as a two-satellite constellation: Sentinel-2A and -2B. Sentinel-2A was launched on 23 June 2015 and has been providing routine imagery for the EU Copernicus Land Monitoring Service, among others. Once Sentinel-2B is launched and operational, the constellation will offer a global revisit every five days.

Information from this mission is helping to improve agricultural practices, monitor the world's forest, detect pollution in lakes and coastal waters, and contribute to disaster mapping, to name a few.

The satellite was built by an industrial consortium led by prime contractor Airbus Defence and Space in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
Sentinel-2 teams prepare for space

 http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Sentinel-2_teams_prepare_for_space

ЦитироватьSOE пишет:
Заправили еще 8 февраля аппарат...

Цитировать16 February 2017
 As liftoff day draws closer, the Sentinel-2B 'to do' list is shrinking as tasks are ticked off, including the tricky process of fuelling the satellite. And, even despite having to do a few unexpected jobs, everything is on track for launch.

 The Copernicus Sentinel-2B satellite will ride into space on a Vega rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 7 March at 01:49 GMT (02:49 CET; 22:49 local time on 6 March).
...

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
Опять же фото начала заправки (http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/02/Fuelling_Sentinel-2B) ESA опубликовало только 12 числа

[/li]
• Released 07/02/2017 5:10 pm
  

ЦитироватьPosted on February 16, 2017 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

Sentinel-2B sealed from view             

The team at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, have now said "au revoir" to the satellite they have spent years building and testing as it was encapsulated in the Vega rocket fairing.
 

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101025.jpg)
Sentinel-2B sealed in the Vega rocket fairing. (ESA–Manuel Pedoussaut)

 
The fairing will not open again until the mission is launched on 7 March at 01:49 GMT (02:49 CET; 22:49 local time on 6 March).
Encapsulation is a milestone, and needless to say a rather emotional one, during the campaign to get a satellite ready for liftoff.
 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101028.jpg)
Fixed to the launch adapter. (ESA–Manuel Pedoussaut)

 Since its arrival at the launch site at the beginning of January, Sentinel-2B has been through a series of stringent tests to confirm there was no damage during its journey from Europe.
These tests have made sure that everything is in good working order so that this new satellite will deliver the images to monitor Earth's vegetation and changing lands – along with its twin, Sentinel-2A, which has been in orbit since last June.
 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101024.jpg)
Time to say au revoir. (ESA–Manuel Pedoussaut)

 The delicate and risky task of fuelling the satellite took place a few days ago, after which it was joined to the Vega adapter.
The protective covers, called 'red tag items', were then removed before it was encapsulated in the rocket fairing, which protects the satellite during the first part of the launch. The next step will be to transfer the 'payload assembly composite' to the launcher.
 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101026.jpg)
Last glimpse of Sentinel-2B as fairing shells close. (ESA–Manuel Pedoussaut)

[свернуть]

From the ESA launch campaign team in Kourou.

ЦитироватьPosted on February 20, 2017 by Kelsea (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/kelsea/)
 
Sentinel-2B in the launch tower

Two weeks before liftoff, Sentinel-2B is in position high up in the launch tower at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101029.jpg)
In the tower

Спойлер

On Saturday, the upper composite carrying the Sentinel-2B satellite was taken from the integration facility to the launch pad.
 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101031.jpg)
Transferring Sentinel-2B to the launcher assembly area

 
It was then lifted up the gantry to the same level as the Vega's AVUM upper-stage. Electrical connections were installed and the satellite was switched on: all worked well. It was then connected – or 'mated' – with the upper stage.
 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101030.jpg)
Mating of the upper composite to the launcher

[свернуть]

On Sunday the satellite successfully underwent functional tests.      

ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=vega)    February 20, 2017

 Vega and its Sentinel-2B payload are readied for Arianespace's next light-lift mission
 
Arianespace's third flight of 2017 is moving into the final phase of preparations, with the lightweight Vega launcher's basic assembly completed and its Sentinel-2B Earth observation satellite encapsulated for liftoff on March 6 from the Spaceport in French Guiana.                         

Спойлер

 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/222946.jpg) (http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2-20-2017-VV09-lg1.jpg)
Sentinel-2B is encapsulated by its Vega payload fairing at the Spaceport.

Underscoring the versatility of Arianespace's launcher family, this flight follows year-opening missions with the company's other two launch vehicles: performed February 14 with the heavy-lift Ariane 5 to orbit the SKY Brasil-1 and Telkom 3S telecommunications satellites for Brazil and Indonesia; and on January 27, utilizing a medium-lift Soyuz to loft Hispasat 36W-1, Europe's first "SmallGEO" relay platform.

Vega has undergone its buildup on the pad during activity at the Spaceport's ZLV launch site, involving stacking of the vehicle's solid propellant P80 first stage, Zefiro 23 second stage and Zefiro 9 third stage, topped off by the liquid bi-propellant AVUM upper stage.

 

Vega's ninth mission from the Spaceport

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/222947.jpg) (http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2-20-2017-VV09-lg2.jpg)
The AVUM upper stage is hoisted for installation atop Vega at the Spaceport's ZLV launch site.

 Designated Flight VV09 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system, the March 6 liftoff will be Vega's ninth mission since the February 2012 service startup of this launcher – which is manufactured by Italy's Avio Group through its ELV subsidiary with the Italian Space Agency, and has been evolved in a European Space Agency-sponsored program.

The Sentinel-2B passenger for Flight VV09 will join the European Union's Earth observation satellite fleet called Copernicus, which has the goals of providing information for agricultural and forestry practices, assisting the management of food security, tracking pollution in lakes and coastal waters, along with delivering disaster mapping and helping humanitarian relief efforts.

As part of Sentinel-2B's processing at the Spaceport, the satellite underwent a solar panel deployment test this month and was then fueled with 133 kg. of hydrazine propellant and enclosed in the Vega's payload fairing.

 

Arianespace at the service of Europe's Sentinel satellites

Sentinel-2B's launch will follow the orbiting of Sentinel-2A on a previous Vega mission performed in June 2015. Development of the Sentinel-2 satellites results from a close collaboration involving the European Space Agency, the European Commission, service providers and data users. A consortium of some 60 companies was led by Airbus in designing the mission and building the spacecraft, supported by the French CNES space agency and the DLR German Aerospace Center.

The March 6 mission with Sentinel-2B continues a busy year for Arianespace's launch services, with a total of 12 flights targeted during 2017 from French Guiana using the light-lift Vega, medium-lift Soyuz and heavy-weight Ariane 5.

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg) Stéphane Israël‏@arianespaceceo  (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 5 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/834163742871060480)
 
#Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) stands tall in the launch zone after integration of its #Sentinel (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel?src=hash)-2B passenger & payload fairing! @AirbusDS (https://twitter.com/AirbusDS) @ESA (https://twitter.com/esa) @EU_Commission (https://twitter.com/EU_Commission) #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157005.jpg)

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
Видеорассказ о Sentinel-2B (2:00)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oE2rVp0OX8

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29242.jpg) DutchSpace‏@DutchSpace  (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace) 20 февр. (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/833659008565272582)

Nice view of the #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) AVUM upper stage during integration of the #Sentinel2B (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2B?src=hash) #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) upper composite @ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) @CopernicusEU (https://twitter.com/CopernicusEU)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156999.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186017.jpg) Airbus Defence&SpaceПодлинная учетная запись‏@AirbusDS  (https://twitter.com/AirbusDS) 24 февр. (https://twitter.com/AirbusDS/status/835053987699310593)

#Sentinel (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel?src=hash)-2B from @AirbusDS (https://twitter.com/AirbusDS) ready for launch from Kourou - @CopernicusEU (https://twitter.com/CopernicusEU) #colourvision (https://twitter.com/hashtag/colourvision?src=hash) get its second eye. #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) https://airbusdefenceandspace.com/newsroom/news-and-features/sentinel-2b-satellite-ready-for-launch-from-kourou-copernicus-colour-vision-gets-its-second-eye/ ... (https://t.co/c0dz5sDoDU)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156935.jpg)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156936.jpg)

ЦитироватьSentinel-2B satellite ready for launch from Kourou – Copernicus´ 'Colour Vision' gets its second eye

 February 24, 2017 - Press release
 

Multi Spectral Instruments provide unique image quality
 
Data to be transmitted via Airbus's laser-based SpaceDataHighway (EDRS)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125811.jpg)

[свернуть]

Friedrichshafen, 24/02/2017 - Sentinel-2B, Europe´s next Copernicus satellite is being readied by engineers from Airbus for a 7 March 2017 lift-off from Kourou, French Guiana. Sentinel-2B will be the fifth satellite of Europe's environmental monitoring programme Copernicus to be launched. Copernicus is an operational programme led by the European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). The Copernicus Sentinels supply remote sensing data of the Earth to deliver key operational services related to environment and security.

"Sentinel-2B is the next important milestone in Europe´s Copernicus programme for which Airbus is a key contributor. With two highly sophisticated satellites the Sentinel-2 mission will reach its full capability," said Nicolas Chamussy, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, "and the wide ranging user community will get more "colourful" data in near real-time."

Спойлер

Offering 'colour vision' for the Copernicus programme, Sentinel-2 delivers optical images from the visible to short-wave infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. From an altitude of 786 kilometres the 1.1 ton satellites provide images in 13 spectral bands with a resolution of 10, 20 or 60 metres and a uniquely large swath width of 290 km. The optical design of the Multi Spectral Instruments (MSI) has been optimised to achieve state-of-the-art imaging quality across its very wide field of view.

The telescope structures and the mirrors are made of silicon carbide, which provides very high optical stability and minimizes any thermo-elastic deformation to give an excellent geometric image which is unprecedented in this category of optical imagers. The data gathered are used for monitoring land use and changes, soil sealing, land management, agriculture, forestry, natural disasters (floods, forest fires, landslides, erosion) and to assist humanitarian aid missions. Environmental observation in coastal areas likewise forms part of these activities, as does glacier, ice and snow monitoring.

The Sentinel-2 mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites in the same orbit, 180° apart for optimal coverage and data delivery. The satellites are orbiting the Earth every 100 minutes covering all Earth's land surfaces, large islands, inland and coastal waters every five days. Sentinel-2A, which is identical in design, was launched on 23 June 2015.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125812.jpg)

The Sentinel-2 mission has been made possible thanks to the close collaboration between ESA, the European Commission, industry, service providers and data users. Its development has involved more than 40 companies, led by Airbus in Germany for the satellites and Airbus in France for the multispectral instruments, while Airbus in Spain is responsible for the mechanical satellite structure.

The mission has been supported by the French space agency CNES to provide expertise in image processing and calibration, and by the German Aerospace Center DLR that provided the laser communication payload, developed by Tesat Spacecom, a subsidiary of Airbus in Germany. This piece of technology allows the Sentinel-2 satellites to transmit data via laser to satellites in geostationary orbit carrying the European Data Relay System (EDRS) developed by Airbus for ESA. This SpaceDataHighway allows large volumes of data to be relayed very quickly so that information can be even more readily available for users.

As of February 2017, a total of 63,981users self-registered on the Sentinels Scientific Data Hub. About 484,000 products are available for download, with a total volume of 585 TB. Overall, a total volume of 2.74 petabytes has been downloaded by the user communities.

About Copernicus    

Copernicus is the most ambitious Earth observation programme to date. It will provide accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security. This initiative is headed by the European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). ESA is responsible for the coordination of the space component of the programme and coordinating the delivery of data from more than 30 contributing satellites and operates – in tandem with Eumetsat – the Sentinel satellites while the EEA is responsible for data from airborne and ground sensors. The EC, acting on behalf of the European Union, is responsible for the overall initiative, setting requirements and managing the services.

The Sentinel satellites

ESA is developing seven Sentinel missions specifically for Copernicus, the first of which - Sentinel-1A with a radar instrument built by Airbus - was launched in April 2014. The Sentinels provide a unique set of observations, which started with the all-weather, day and night radar images from Sentinel-1, and continue with optical images from Sentinel-2. Airbus is core partner in the Copernicus Programme leading 5 of 7 Copernicus Missions as Prime Contractor: Sentinel-2, -4, -5P, -5, -6 and contributes significantly to Sentinel-1 (Radar-Instrument) and Sentinel-3 (MWR-Instrument).

About Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2016, it generated revenues of € 67 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as Europe's number one space enterprise and the world's second largest space business. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

Press contacts:
Ralph Heinrich
+49 (0)171 30 49 751
ralph.heinrich@airbus.com (mailto:ralph.heinrich@airbus.com)
Jeremy Close
+44 (0)7766 536 572
jeremy.close@airbus.com (mailto:jeremy.close@airbus.com)
Alain Dupiech
+33 (0)7 86 29 54 71
alain.dupiech@airbus.com (mailto:alain.dupiech@airbus.com)
Francisco Lechón
+34 630 196 993
francisco.lechon@airbus.com (mailto:francisco.lechon@airbus.com)

[свернуть]

Download
Press Release SPACE SYSTEMS 24022017-EN (https://airbusdefenceandspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/press-release-space-systems-24022017-en.pdf)
Press Release SPACE SYSTEMS 24022017-FR (https://airbusdefenceandspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/press-release-space-systems-24022017-fr.pdf)
Press Release SPACE SYSTEMS 24022017-DE (https://airbusdefenceandspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/press-release-space-systems-24022017-de.pdf)
Press Release SPACE SYSTEMS 24022017-ES (https://airbusdefenceandspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/press-release-space-systems-24022017-es.pdf)
 

ЦитироватьMISSION DESCRIPTION

The ninth Arianespace Vega launch from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) will place its satellite passenger into a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO)
The launcher will be carrying a total payload of approximately 1,208 kg.

The launch will be performed from the Vega Launch Complex (SLV) in Kourou, French Guiana.

DATE AND TIME

Liftoff is scheduled for Monday, March 6, 2017, at exactly:
> 08:49:24 p.m., Washington D.C. time
> 10:49:24 p.m., local time in French Guiana
> 1:49:24, Universal Time (UTC), on March 7th
> 2:49:24 a.m., Paris and Brussels time, on March 7th

MISSION DURATION

The nominal mission duration (from liftoff to separation of the satellite) is:

57 minutes, 57 seconds.

TARGETED ORBIT

Orbit - SSO (Sun-synchronous orbit)
Altitude at separation - Approx. 786 km.
Semi major axis: 7,160 km.
Inclination 98.57 degrees

THE LAUNCH AT A GLANCE

Following liftoff from the Guiana Space Center, the powered phase of Vega's first three stages will last 6 minutes, 32 seconds.

After this first phase, the launcher's third stage will separate from the upper composite, which includes the AVUM upper stage, a payload adapter and the satellite. The lower three stages will fall in to the sea.

The AVUM upper stage will ignite its engine for the first time, operating for about 7 minutes, followed by a
ballistic phase lasting approximately 40 minutes.

The AVUM stage will then reignite its engine for approximately 2 minutes, prior to releasing the Sentinel-2B satellite about 1 minute after the engine is shut down.

The Sentinel-2B satellite will be released 57 minutes, 57 seconds after liftoff.

VEGA PAYLOAD CONFIGURATION

> Payload: Sentinel-2B
> Mass at liftoff: 1,130 kg.
> PLA - Vega Payload Adaptor

Цитировать

DATE	SATELLITE ACTIVITIES	LAUNCH VEHICLE ACTIVITIES
Saturday, February 18, 2017	Transfer of upper composite from S5B to SLV (Vega Launch Site) Composite integration on the launcher
From Tuesday, February 21 to Friday February 24, 2017		Fueling operations for RACS (Roll and Attitude Control  Subsystem) and fueling operations AVUM (N2O4)
Thursday, March 2, 2017		AVUM final preparation and rehearsal
Friday, March 3, 2017		Arming of launch vehicle and fairing
Saturday, March 4, 2017		Launch readiness review (RAL), final  preparation of launcher and final inspection of  the fairing
Monday, March 6, 2017		Final launch countdown

ЦитироватьCOUNTDOWN AND FLIGHT SEQUENCE

The countdown comprises all final preparation steps for the launcher, the satellite and the launch site, including the steps leading up to authorization of P80 first-stage ignition.

TIME			EVENT
- 09 h	10 min		Start of final countdown
- 06 h	00 min		Activation of Multi-Functional Unit (MFU)
- 05 h	40 min		Activation of Inertial Reference System (IRS)
- 05 h	40 min		Activation of telemetry
- 05 h	10 min		Activation of Safeguard Master Unit (SMU)
- 04 h	50 min		Removal of safety devices
- 04 h	40 min		Activation of onboard computer and loading of flight program
- 04 h	30 min		IRS alignment and checks
- 03 h	15 min		Mobile gantry withdrawal (45 min.)
- 02 h	25 min		IRS alignment and checks after withdrawal of gantry
- 01 h	15 min		Activation of the telemetry transmitter after withdrawal of gantry
- 01 h	15 min		Activation of transponders and receptors
- 00 h	50 min		Launcher system ready
- 00 h	10 min		Final weather report prior to launch
- 00 h	04 min		Start of synchronized sequence
T-0		00 s	LIFTOFF
+00 h	01 min	55 s	1st stage (P80) separation
+ 00 h	01 min	56 s	2nd stage (Zefiro-23) ignition
+ 00 h	03 min	39 s	2nd stage (Zefiro-23) separation
+ 00 h	03 min	51 s	3rd stage (Zefiro-9) ignition
+ 00 h	03 min	56 s	Fairing separation
+ 00 h	06 min	32 s	3rd stage (Zefiro-9) separation
+ 00 h	08 min	23 s	1st ignition of AVUM
+ 00 h	15 min	27 s	1st cut-off of AVUM
+ 00 h	55 min	07 s	2nd ignition of AVUM
+ 00 h	57 min	07 s	2nd cut-off of AVUM
+ 00 h	57 min	57 s	Separation of Sentinel-2B
+ 01 h	48 min	27 s	3rd ignition of AVUM
+ 01 h	50 min	00 s	3rd cut-off of AVUM
+ 01 h	57 min	30 s	End of the Arianespace mission

ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/press-releases/?taxonomy%5Bpress-release-category%5D=vega)    February 27, 2017
 
Flight VV09: with Vega, Arianespace at the service of Earth observation for the European Commission's Copernicus program

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223096.jpg)                                                                             
 For its third launch of the year, which will be the first mission in 2017 utilizing a Vega launcher, Arianespace will orbit the Sentinel-2B satellite, a part of Europe's Copernicus Earth observation program, on behalf of the European Commission within the scope of a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA).                           

Arianespace is proud to contribute to the deployment of satellites in the Copernicus program for the fourth time, and to ensure independent access to space for Europe.

VV09 is the ninth launch to be performed by the Vega launcher since its first liftoff from the Guiana Space Center in 2012.

The launch will be performed from the Vega Launch Complex (ZLV) in Kourou, French Guiana.

The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) will take place on Saturday, March 4, 2017 in Kourou, to authorize the start of operations for the final countdown.

Sentinel-2B is the fourth satellite in the Copernicus program to be orbited by Arianespace, following the successful launches of Sentinel-1A by a Soyuz rocket in April 2014, Sentinel-2A by a Vega rocket in June 2015, and Sentinel-1B by a Soyuz in April 2016 – all performed from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana.

The Sentinel-2B Earth observation satellite primarily focuses on monitoring land masses and coastal zones around the world. Its data will be used for applications concerning the monitoring of vegetation, world's forest, soil types and habitats in particular by detecting pollution in lakes and coastal waters. The spacecraft features a multispectral, wide-swath, high-resolution optical imaging instrument.

Sentinel-2B will be positioned in an orbit opposite that of Sentinel-2A to ensure optimum coverage and data delivery. The pair of Sentinel-2 satellites will cover the Earth's entire surface in five days. This high frequency means they will capture brand-new views of the Earth, driving considerable progress in monitoring and predicting changes in vegetation and aquatic pollution.

Sentinel-2B was built by a consortium led by Airbus.

For further information, download the Launch Kit by clicking here: http://www.arianespace.com/press-kits/

To watch a live, high-speed online transmission of the launch (including commentary from the launch site in French and English), go to arianespace.com (http://www.arianespace.com) on March 6, 2017 starting 15 minutes before liftoff.

You also can follow the launch live on your iPhone or iPad (the Arianespace HD app is free).

ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=vega)      February 27, 2017

 Launcher build-up is complete for Arianespace's Vega mission with Sentinel-2B on March 6

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223095.jpg)Vega's payload fairing containing Sentinel-2B is transferred to the Spaceport's ZLV launch site (at left, and center) for installation atop the launcher (at right) during activity in the mobile gantry's upper level.

 The ninth Vega light-lift launcher is now complete at the Spaceport, with its Sentinel-2B Earth observation satellite installed atop the four-stage vehicle in preparation for a March 6 mission from French Guiana.

Encapsulated in the bulb-shaped protective payload fairing, Sentinel-2B was integrated on Vega during activity at the Spaceport's ZLV launch site. With this step complete, the preparations for Arianespace's upcoming mission – designated Flight VV09 in the company's launcher family numbering system – are entering their final phase.

Vega underwent its build-up on the launch pad, involving a stacking of the vehicle's three solid propellant stages and liquid bi-propellant upper stage, then "topped off" by Sentinel-2B in its payload fairing. The activity was performed with Vega protected by a 50-meter tall gantry, which will be rolled back during the final countdown at 3 hours, 15 minutes prior to liftoff.

 

Vega's latest mission at the service of Earth observation

Flight VV09 will be Vega's ninth mission from the Spaceport in French Guiana since the February 2012 startup of operations with this launcher, as well as its sixth at the service of Earth observation payloads.

Vega was evolved in a European Space Agency-sponsored program as Europe's light-lift launcher, and is supplied to Arianespace by the ELV subsidiary of Italy's Avio Group and the Italian Space Agency.

During Flight VV09's trajectory, Vega's three solid propellant stages will operate in sequence during the mission's initial six minutes, followed by two ignitions of the AVUM liquid bi-propellant upper stage – separated by a ballistic phase lasting approximately 40 minutes.

 

A mission to Sun-synchronous orbit with Sentinel-2B

Sentinel-2B has a liftoff mass of 1,130 kg. and will be deployed into Sun-synchronous orbit during a nighttime mission lasting just under 58 minutes. After its deployment by Vega, Sentinel-2B is to operate at an altitude of approximately 786 km., with a design lifetime of seven-plus years.
 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/222948.jpg) (http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2-27-2017-VV09-lg.jpg)
Prior to its integration on Vega, Sentinel-2B underwent a deployment test of its solar panel, which was performed in the Spaceport's S3B clean room facility.
 
The spacecraft was built by a consortium of companies led by Airbus in designing the mission and building the spacecraft, supported by the French CNES space agency and the DLR German Aerospace Center. Its development results from a close collaboration involving the European Space Agency, the European Commission, service providers and data users.

Sentinel-2B will be the fourth satellite in the Copernicus program to be orbited by Arianespace from the Spaceport in French Guiana, complementing the successful launch of Sentinel-1A on a Soyuz in April 2014, Sentinel-2A aboard a Vega in June 2015 and Sentinel-1B by a Soyuz in April 2016.

Equipped with a multispectral, wide-swath, high-resolution optical imaging instrument, Sentinel-2B is to focus primarily on the monitoring of land masses and coastal zones around the world. Its data will be used for applications involving the monitoring of vegetation, soil types and habitats.

 

Flight VV09: Arianespace third mission in 2017

The March 6 mission with Sentinel-2B continues Arianespace's sustained launch cadence in 2017, with a total of 12 flights targeted during the year from French Guiana using its launcher family composed of the light-lift Vega, medium-lift Soyuz and heavy-weight Ariane 5.

Flight VV09 will be the third Arianespace liftoff in 2017, following the February 14 launch of an Ariane 5 with the SKY Brasil-1 and Telkom 3S relay satellites for Brazil and Indonesia; and the January 27 flight utilizing a medium-lift Soyuz to orbit Europe's first "SmallGEO" relay platform, Hispasat 36W-1.
 

[/li]
• Larger versions of the photos above are available to download in the Gallery (http://www.arianespace.com/gallery/).
  

ЦитироватьN° 7–2017: Call for Media: Launch of Sentinel-2B satellite for Copernicus
27 February 2017

The second satellite in the Sentinel-2 mission for the EU's Copernicus programme is set for launch from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana at 01:49 GMT 7 March (02:49 CET 7 March; 22:49 local time 6 March) aboard a Vega rocket.
 
Journalists are invited to join the social media and outreach event held at ESA's mission operations centre in Darmstadt, Germany.
 
There, 100 sel ected social media players from all over Europe, official guests, ESA Earth observation experts and the new generation of Copernicus data users will mingle in a new, more informal and interactive setting. Next to a small event stage, exchanges will take place around four thematic corners on: 'Land and food security', 'Space technology, operations and business trends', 'Sea and coastal areas' and 'Cities and society'.
 
In this new mission launch event spirit, everyone is invited to follow the event hashtag #Sentinel2Go and to join these debates on the leading channels (such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Instagram).
 
Copernicus is headed by the European Commission in partnership with ESA. It provides accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change, and ensure land monitoring, emergency management and security.
 
The new fleet of Sentinel satellites are delivering a wealth of data and images that are central to the ambitious Copernicus programme.
 
The optical imaging Sentinel-2 mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites: Sentinel-2A, which was launched in June 2015, and the upcoming Sentinel-2B. Although launched separately, the satellites will be placed in the same orbit, separated by 180°. Every five days, the satellites will jointly cover all land surfaces, large islands, and inland and coastal waters between latitudes 56°S and 84°N, optimising global coverage and data delivery for numerous applications.
 
The mission carries an innovative high-resolution multispectral camera with 13 spectral bands for a new perspective of land and vegetation. The combination of high-resolution, novel spectral capabilities, a field of vision covering 290 km and frequent revisit times will provide unprecedented views of Earth.
 
Among its applications, the mission provides information for agricultural practices, helping in the management of food security. It also maps the status and changes in land cover and monitors the world's forests.

 It also provides information on pollution in lakes and coastal waters. Images of floods, volcanic eruptions and landslides contribute to disaster mapping and helping in humanitarian relief efforts.

 Sentinel-2 is equipped to benefit fr om another ESA programme, the European Data Relay System (EDRS). EDRS is creating a network of geostationary laser communication payloads for the continuous relay of low-orbit satellite data, and will enable the Sentinel's Earth observation data to be transmitted faster than ever, using laser links.
 The Sentinel-2 mission is the result of close collaboration between ESA, the European Commission, industry, service providers and data users. It is designed and built by a consortium of 60 companies led by Airbus Defence and Space.

 Learn more about Sentinel-2 at:
 www.esa.int/sentinel2 (http://www.esa.int/sentinel2) 
  
 Learn more about Copernicus at:
 www.esa.int/copernicus (http://www.esa.int/copernicus) 
  
 Covering the launch
 
 SocialSpace early morning event at ESOC
 
 100 selected social media players and young Earth observation enthusiasts will participate in the interactive event at ESOC. 

 Doors open at 01:00 CET. As well as watching the launch, the main programme includes talks by  experts explaining the benefits of Copernicus.

 The event ends at 04:00 CET, when breakfast will be served.
 
 The interactive launch event at ESOC will be webstreamed on ESA's web site.

 Media who want to participate in the event must register via: https://myconvento.com/public/event_register/do_register/1610033
 
 For more information, please contact:
 ESOC Corporate Communication Office
 Tel: +49 6151 902516
Email: esoc.communication@esa.int (mailto:esoc.communication@esa.int)
  
 ESA TV
 
 ESA TV will provide video coverage through a partnership with Arianespace. Several stories have also been prepared on the mission and its technology. More information at: http://www.esa.int/esatv/Television
  
 Live webstream

 ESA's Portal will cover the launch live, providing the videostream and updates of the launch and event at ESOC at: www.esa.int (http://www.esa.int/esalive) and www.livestream.com/eurospaceagency (http://www.livestream.com/eurospaceagency)
  
 Images
 
 The latest high-resolution images can be found at:
http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Missions/Sentinel-2
 
 ESA's Photo Library for Professionals: http://www.esa-photolibrary.com
Media image queries can be directed to spaceinimages@esa.int (mailto:spaceinimages@esa.int)
  
 Videos
 
 For a collection of videos, including interviews with key team members and animations, visit: www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Missions/Sentinel-2 (http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Missions/Sentinel-2)
  
 Social media
 
 Follow the Sentinel-2B launch via social media channels:

 Twitter: @ESA_EO, @esaoperations and @esa. The hashtags used are #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATV5?src=hash)Go and #Sentinel2

 Blogs: ESA earth observation launch campaigns http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/
 
 Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/sets/72157651138463561
 
 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/europeanspaceagency/ & https://www.instagram.com/esa_earth/
 
 Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanSpaceAgency): https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanSpaceAgency
 
 Google+ (https://plus.google.com/+EuropeanSpaceAgency/): https://plus.google.com/+EuropeanSpaceAgency/  

Спойлер

About the European Space Agency
 
 The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe's gateway to space.
 
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
 
ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia is an Associate Member.
 
ESA has established formal cooperation with six Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some

ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.
 
By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with EUMETSAT for the development of meteorological missions.
 
ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.
 
Today, it develops and launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space. ESA also has a strong applications programme developing services in the Earth observation, navigation and telecommunications domain.
 
Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int (http://www.esa.int/)
  
 For further information, please contact:
 
 ESA Media Relations Office

 Tel: +33 1 53 69 72 99

 Email: media@esa.int

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьSentinel 2B Vega Launch Live (http://www.esa.int/esatv/Transmissions/2017/03/Sentinel_2B_Vega_Launch_Live)
Date: 07/03/2017 | Begin 02:30 CET (01:30 GMT) | End: 04:15 CET (03:15 GMT)
Type: ESA TV Live | Format: 16:9
See details » (http://www.esa.int/esatv/Transmissions/2017/03/Sentinel_2B_Vega_Launch_Live)

ЦитироватьSentinel 2B Vega Launch Live

Tue, Mar 07, 2017 | 01:30 - 03:15 GMT | 02:30 - 04:15 CET

ESA TV Live - 16:9

Follow the live launch of Sentinel-2B by a Vega rocket from Europe's Spaceport, French Guiana.

Lift off is scheduled  at 01:49 GMT (02:49 CET) on 7 March, 22:49 on 6 March in Kourou.

Video transmission will be in two parts :

- Vega on its pad/ Lift Off / Ascent and flight with first Avum burn

- Sentinel-2B Separation / Declarations

Launch highlights will be posted on ESA TV FTP server within one hour after end of video transmission. 
 
Server: tvdownload.esa.int
 Login: esa
Password: ftp4esa (ftp://ftp4esa/)

For more information please contact ESA TV Team:
 
Dominique Detain at dominique.detain@esa.int (mailto:Dominique.detain@esa.int)  / tel + 33 685 114 681
Chris Courtenay-Taylor at chrisct@worldwidepictures.tv (mailto:chrisct@worldwidepictures.tv) / tel + 44 7774 275 951

More information at:
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus

Satellite Parameters

Sat details soon here

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185840.jpg) DEIMOS IMAGING‏ @deimosimaging  (https://twitter.com/deimosimaging) 14 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/deimosimaging/status/836958281352478720)
 
Only 5 days left for #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash)'s first flight of 2017 #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash). Good luck, #Sentinel2B (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2B?src=hash)! @esa (https://twitter.com/esa) @CopernicusEU (https://twitter.com/CopernicusEU) #DEIMOS2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/DEIMOS2?src=hash)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156896.jpg)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/837314153119420417)
 
Mission control: Happy faces & thumbs up at #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) today for the 'dress rehearsal' for #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) launch 7 March #vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/vega?src=hash) #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) #sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/sentinel2?src=hash)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156919.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156918.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156920.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156921.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 11 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/837362812481646597)
 
Why launch is at the uncivilised hour of 2:49CET - explained by the wizards who calculate where #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) must go http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/2017/03/02/sentinel-2b-flight-dynamics-green-for-launch/ ... (https://t.co/H2g1Jh4GDa)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156926.jpg)

ЦитироватьPosted on March 2, 2017 by Daniel (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/daniel/)

 Sentinel-2B flight dynamics: GREEN for launch!
 
Today's blog post was contributed by Francesco Affaitati, fr om the flight dynamics team at ESOC supoporting the Sentinel-2 mission.

The Sentinel-2B flight dynamics team are GREEN for launch!
 

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101027.jpg)
Sentinel-2 is the medium spatial resolution optical mission of Europe's Copernicus programme. A pair of identical 1.1-metric-ton satellites will circle the Earth in a sun-synchronous, polar orbit at an altitude of 786 kilometres, fully covering the planet in just five days. The multi-spectral instrument (MSI) will generate optical images in 13 spectral channels in the visible and short-wave infrared range down to a resolution of 10 metres with an image swath of 290 kilometres. Credit: Airbus D&S

[свернуть]

After months of preparation, integration tests and operational simulations, the flight dynamics system is now configured to support the launch on 7 March 2017 at 01:49 UTC (02:49 CET).

On that day, the second satellite of the Sentinel-2 dual-spacecraft mission (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-2), Sentinel-2B, will be injected into orbit to complete the constellation and shift the misison into high gear.

The Sentinel-2 mission comprises a constellation of two identical polar-orbiting satellites following the same ground track, and separated by an argument of latitude (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_of_latitude) difference of 180°. The Sentinel-2 orbit cross the equator at a specific time of day (10:30 local) so as to guarantee the best illumination conditions for the optical acquisitions of the main instrument, the MSI (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-2/Instrument).
 
About that launch window...

To achieve this orbit and target the 10:30 local time (when the satellite cross the equator while on the 'downward' arc of its orbit), the Vega launcher can lift off at only one moment in the day.

Vega launches from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, and is designed to be launched toward the north from Kourou, so as to facilitae recovery of the boosters over open ocean.

To calculate the lift-off time, various factors are taken into account, from the length of the ascending trajectory and the expected thrust performance of each Vega stage to the wind conditions. In case of any delay caused by a technical issue, even if it would only take a short time to fix, the next launch window opportunity will only come around 24 hours later.

The launch, of course, is just the start of operational activities for the flight dynamics team at ESA.

From the moment Vega lifts off, we will have to wait almost one hour until separation of the satellite from the Vega upper stage. At this point, we will begin conducting one of the most critical activities in any new mission: the first orbit determination, which will precisely identify the actual orbit of the satellite.
 

Спойлер

First 'ODet'

In fact a spacecraft is never perfectly injected into its designed trajectory, as any imprecision in launcher performance will be reflected in the spacecraft's actual orbit. This is one reason why spacecraft are equipped with thrusters and propulsion systems, enabling them to be moved very precsiely into a final orbit.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oE2rVp0OX8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oE2rVp0OX8)
Animation of the constellation orbits 180° apart at 00:18 in this video

Contrary to the Sentinel-2A launch in 2015, this time the satellite will be injected into an orbit 11 km below the final, desired orbit (to avoid any risk of collision with the already-in-orbit twin!). Therefore, on top of the (never so) standard activities to correct the launcher orbit injection errors, which will keep us and the mission control team busy for three days around the clock, we will have to plan for a 'raising manoeuvre sequence' in order to bring the satellite into its final orbit.

This is not a trivial activity, as, at the same time, we have to also ensure that the spacecraft can be properly tracked by the ground station antennas (i.e. that the antenna operators know exactly wh ere to point the antenna before each communication slot), cope with any uncertainties that a new spacecraft not-yet-fully commissioned may give, handle any uncertainties that the space environment throws at us and – last but not least – be ready to deal with space debris.

We are really looking forward to this launch, and to being part of the larger 'team of teams' working to complete the Sentinel-2 constellation. We are proud to support Copernicus (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus) and the European Commission!
 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101032.jpg)
Sentinel-2B FDyn Team - and they're great with Photoshop, too! Credit: ESA

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Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg) Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo  (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 29 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/837371103316176896)

#MadeInEurope (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadeInEurope?src=hash): Next week #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) aims to deliver success on Flight #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) for our long-time valued partners @ESA (https://twitter.com/esa) @EU_Commission (https://twitter.com/EU_Commission)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156930.jpg)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156927.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/156928.jpg)

ЦитироватьSentinel-2B poised for liftoff
 
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225393.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2017/03/Sentinel-2B_in_launch_tower)
Sentinel-2B in launch tower
 
 2 March 2017
 
With liftoff just few days away, the next Sentinel satellite for the Copernicus environmental monitoring programme is positioned in the launch tower at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
 
Carrying a multispectral camera to image Earth's changing land and vegetation, Sentinel-2B is set for launch on 7 March at 01:49 GMT (02:49 CET; 22:49 local time on 6 March).
 
It will join its twin, Sentinel-2A, which has been in orbit since June 2015. With them circling on opposite sides of Earth and each providing 290 km-wide coverage, the time it takes to image the globe will be cut in half to five days, and to just three days over Europe.

Спойлер

 
 The satellite was shipped to Kourou in early January, where it has been tested, fuelled, encapsulated in its Vega rocket fairing, rolled out to the launch pad and hoisted into the tower.

 The upper stage of the rocket has also been fuelled and the teams are now preparing for countdown.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225686.jpg)  (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2016/08/Sentinel-2_global_coverage)
Sentinel-2 global coverage
 
 Today, Arianespace, the Sentinel-2 team in Kourou and ESA's mission control in Darmstadt, Germany, are performing a full rehearsal.
 
 Paolo Laberinti, ESA's Sentinel-2 launch campaign manager, said, "It's been a very intense couple of months for the ESA and the Airbus Defences and Space team here in Kourou, but thoroughly checking and preparing the satellite for liftoff has gone very well and we are really looking forward to saying a fond farewell to our baby when it lifts off on Monday night."
 
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225384.jpg)  (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2017/03/Closing_Sentinel-2B_fairing)
Closing Sentinel-2B fairing
 
 Francois Spoto, ESA's Sentinel-2 project manager, added, "We're were very proud to see the Sentinel-2A launch two years ago and now it's almost time for Sentinel-2B to join its twin.
 
"The mission is not just down to us though, it is thanks to the close collaboration we have with the European Commission, an industrial consortium of about 60 companies led by Airbus Defence and Space, France's CNES space agency and the Copernicus service providers – and I'm sure everyone is as excited as we are."
 
As for all the Sentinel missions, Sentinel-2 has been built for the Copernicus programme, this time focusing largely on Earth's vegetation.
 
Ensuring land is used sustainably while meeting the food and wood demands of a growing global population is one of today's biggest challenges. The Copernicus land service provides information to help respond to global issues such as this, as well as local areas that are prone to specific challenges.
 
The state-of-the-art Sentinel-2 mission provides not only information to improve agricultural practices and map changes in land cover, but it also helps to monitor the world's forests and to detect pollution in lakes and coastal waters.
 
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225370.gif)  (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2016/11/Chiapas_forest_land-cover_map)
Chiapas forest land-cover map
 
 In addition, images of floods, volcanic eruptions and landslides can contribute to disaster mapping and help humanitarian relief efforts.
 
Many of these applications rely on satellite images that are repeated very quickly – especially in the growing season. Once Sentinel-2B has been commissioned, users will have images of all Earth's land surfaces, large islands, and inland and coastal waters between latitudes 84°S and 84°N every five days.
 
The Copernicus programme is led by the EU and the EC while ESA coordinates the Copernicus space component.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьDressed to thrill
 
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225301.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2014/07/Sentinel-2_high-resolution_and_multispectral)
Sentinel-2
 
 3 March 2017
 Mission teams on two continents completed a pre-launch 'dress rehearsal' yesterday, ensuring everything is ready for Sentinel-2B liftoff next week.
 
A full dress rehearsal yesterday at ESA's mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, and Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, enabled teams to practice one final time the complete countdown and launch sequence before the real thing on 7 March.
 
Sentinel-2B is set for liftoff next Tuesday at 01:49 GMT (02:49 CET) on a Vega rocket, which will deliver the sophisticated Earth-watching satellite into orbit about an hour later.
 

Спойлер

In space, the new spacecraft will join its identical twin, launched in 2015, completing the two-ship constellation and effectively doubling the coverage provided by Europe's 'colour vision' mission.

 The two satellites will be placed in the same orbit (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/2017/03/02/sentinel-2b-flight-dynamics-green-for-launch/), separated by 180° and, every five days, will jointly image land, large islands and inland and coastal waters, optimising global coverage and data delivery for numerous applications.
 
The two spacecraft are part of a new fleet of Sentinels that are delivering the data and images that are central to Europe's ambitious Copernicus programme (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus).
 
 Final simulation training
 In yesterday's final 'sim', teams at ESA mission control (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Sentinel-2_operations) worked with the joint ESA, Arianespace and industry launch team in Kourou to rehearse the launch sequence.
 
This included configuring the launcher and spacecraft for flight, stepping through the pre-launch countdown and then following the (simulated) flight of the Vega rocket and Sentinel-2B through to the receipt of first signals fr om the satellite and deployment of the solar array.
 
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225684.jpg)  (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2015/06/Sentinel-2_separates_from_Vega)
When mission controllers take over
 
 For ESA's mission controllers, the dress rehearsal was the last in an intensive series spanning the past several months. During the rehearsal, engineers at ESOC received live signals from the satellite via an umbilical connection that will be disconnected shortly before launch.
 
 Critical days
 On Tuesday, the Vega rocket will provide Sentinel-2B with a spectacular ride into orbit, aiming to reach just below the final target of about 786 km altitude, wh ere its twin is already flying.
 
The satellite will later use its propulsion thrusters to be nudged up to match Sentinel-2A's altitude, with the two flying in a carefully planned constellation.
 
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225379.jpg)  (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2017/01/Team_training)
Team training
 
 Mission controllers expect to receive the satellite's first signals around 60 minutes after lift off.
 
Receipt of signals will mark the start of intense activity that will see teams working 24 hours a day to shepherd the new satellite through its first few critical days in orbit.
 
Engineers must ensure that the solar array has deployed so as to provide power, that the spacecraft is stable and properly oriented and that all systems are working as expected.
 
 Teamwork
 Yesterday's rehearsal involved an extended 'team of teams' − satellite engineers, specialists working on tracking stations and on the sophisticated hardware and software used to control the satellite and distribute its data as well as experts working in areas like flight dynamics and training.
 
By next Friday, teams expect to have the craft configured for normal flight in its target orbit and to revert to normal work hours for the subsequent three-month satellite commissioning phase including the main imaging instrument (MSI (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-2/Instrument)) in-orbit verification.

[свернуть]

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
Mission controllers expect to receive the satellite's first signals around 60 minutes after lift off.

Цитироватьhttp://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/rokot-km.htm
Planned:
Rokot-KM xx.11.2017 Pl LC-133/3 Sentinel 3B (http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sentinel-3.htm)
Rokot-KM xx.xx.2017 Pl LC-133/3 Sentinel 5p (http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sentinel-5-precursor.htm)

ЦитироватьPirat5 пишет:
Похоже, что и все остальные Часовые (Sentinel) рано или поздно переползут с Рокота на Вегу.

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/837937749852291072/70xe5VuZ_bigger.jpg) Copernicus EU‏ @CopernicusEU  (https://twitter.com/CopernicusEU) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/CopernicusEU/status/838005255308738561)

2B PR not 2B: teams, systems & ground facilities GREEN for #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) launch! #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157181.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185989.jpg) ESA‏Подлинная учетная запись @esa  (https://twitter.com/esa) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esa/status/838063645716283397)
 
Update from Kourou: #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) with #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) B Launch Readiness Review has authorised start of countdown for launch 7 March at 02:49 CET.

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/838064501480173568)
 
Mission control teams at ESOC to conduct their final pre-launch briefing tomorrow - making sure we're ready to take over #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash)

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
Mission control teams at ESOC to conduct their final pre-launch briefing tomorrow

Цитировать (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg)  Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo  (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo)  6 мин.6 минут назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/838083448216698880)
#Copernicus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Copernicus?src=hash), #Sentinel (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel?src=hash)-2B will join you soon! The launch readiness review clears #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) for Monday's Flight #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157182.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185390.png) Arianespace‏ @Arianespace  (https://twitter.com/Arianespace) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/Arianespace/status/838084496612290560)

#Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) is cleared for flight by launch readiness review. For more #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) info, check out the latest Mission Upd ate

ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=vega)                                                          March 4, 2017
 
Vega is cleared for Arianespace's March 6 liftoff with Sentinel-2B

Arianespace's third flight of 2017 has been approved for its March 6 evening liftoff from French Guiana following today's Launch Readiness Review for the lightweight Vega mission to Sun-synchronous orbit with Europe's Sentinel-2B Earth observation satellite.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/222954.jpg)

The review, performed at the Spaceport in French Guiana, confirmed the "go" status of the four-stage Vega and its 1,130-kg. Sentinel-2B payload, along with the Spaceport's launch site infrastructure and the network of trajectory-following tracking stations.

All is now se t for a liftoff at precisely 10:49:24 p.m. local time in French Guiana (1:49:24, Universal Time – UTC on March 7) for a mission lasting 57 minutes, 57 seconds.

Спойлер

Designated Flight VV09 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system, this will be the ninth with Vega since its Spaceport introduction in February 2012, and is one of up to 12 missions planned by the launch services company during 2017. Previous flights this year were a heavy-lift launch with Ariane 5 on February 14, which placed the SKY Brasil-1 and Telkom 3S relay satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO); and a medium-lift Soyuz launch on January 27 that delivered Europe's first "SmallGEO" relay platform, Hispasat 36W-1, into GTO.

 

Vega's mission to Sun-synchronous orbit

After its deployment by Vega on Flight VV09, Sentinel-2B will operate at an altitude of approximately 786 km., with a design lifetime of seven-plus years. The spacecraft is equipped with a multispectral, wide-swath, high-resolution optical imaging instrument, with the primary goal of monitoring land masses and coastal zones around the world. Data collected by Sentinel-2B is to be used for applications involving the monitoring of vegetation, soil types and habitats.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/222955.jpg)

Sentinel-2B is the fourth Copernicus program satellite to be orbited by Arianespace, following the successful launch of Sentinel-1A on a Soyuz in April 2014, the lofting of Sentinel-2A aboard a Vega in June 2015, and the deployment of Sentinel-1B by a Soyuz in April 2016.

The development of Sentinel-2B results from a close collaboration involving the European Space Agency, the European Commission, service providers and data users. A consortium of companies led by Airbus designed the mission and built the spacecraft, supported by the French CNES space agency and the DLR German Aerospace Center.

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/838416835204812803)
 
Pre-launch briefing at #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) today: mission operations team, industry, project all GREEN & ready for #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) https://www.flickr.com/photos/esa_events ... (https://t.co/cdkVitSWSY)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157213.jpg)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157215.jpg)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157214.jpg)
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Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185989.jpg) ESA‏Подлинная учетная запись @esa  (https://twitter.com/esa) 15 мин назад (https://twitter.com/esa/status/838438338034024450)

Update from Kourou. Weather report D-1 all GREEN: Favourable predictions for tomorrow's launch of #vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/vega?src=hash) wirh #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg) Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo  (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 3 мин назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/838486199954210816)
 
#Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) is in position with #Sentinel (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel?src=hash)-2B. The third @Arianespace (https://twitter.com/Arianespace) flight of the year lifts off tomorrow at 10:49 p.m. French Guiana time #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459604250297790464/Yr4aHYY__bigger.png) ESA EarthObservation‏Подлинная учетная запись @ESA_EO  (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/838687755873968128)

#Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) A shows us where its twin, Sentinel-2B, will be launched from tonight on a #vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/vega?src=hash) #vv09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/vv09?src=hash) http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/03/Kourou_French_Guiana ... (https://t.co/btFy5CBSKY) #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157223.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186018.jpg) Manos Lagoudakis‏ @MLagoudakis  (https://twitter.com/MLagoudakis) 31 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/MLagoudakis/status/838748470492155904)
 
The Vega-S2B launch pad as seen from its twin S2A satellite ! #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) @ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) Full info: http://bit.ly/2msT5Cy  (https://t.co/BM3Rf76KPE)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157233.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185720.jpg) Josef Aschbacher‏ @AschbacherJosef  (https://twitter.com/AschbacherJosef) 1 ч назад (https://twitter.com/AschbacherJosef/status/838750047755980801)
 
Control room, Jupiter building, Europe's Space Port in #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash) going over the timeline for the #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) launch
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157234.jpg)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/838701059442900993/DnTBzaox_bigger.jpg) Copernicus EU‏ @CopernicusEU  (https://twitter.com/CopernicusEU) 12 мин назад (https://twitter.com/CopernicusEU/status/838789282143817728)
 
We are counting down the last hours #launchpad (https://twitter.com/hashtag/launchpad?src=hash) #sentinel2go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/sentinel2go?src=hash)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157225.jpg)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/2938758761/10823f4ce7f5260845bc1fe77cd0f9a6_bigger.png) Matej Batič‏ @matejbatic  (https://twitter.com/matejbatic) 2 ч назад (https://twitter.com/matejbatic/status/838786372672577538)

Countdown to Sentinel2B (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125616.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125360.png)#Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157224.jpg)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459604250297790464/Yr4aHYY__bigger.png) ESA EarthObservation‏Подлинная учетная запись @ESA_EO  (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) 3 мин назад (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/838813748420820993)

#Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) in the mobile gantry in #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash) - carrying #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash). Less than 8 hours to launch! #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157247.jpg)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/838824755503456256)
 
On top of #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) rocket, #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash)-B will now be switched on for its #colourvision (https://twitter.com/hashtag/colourvision?src=hash) mission #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/838825654758035456)
 
Mission Control team will begin a series of data flow tests between #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) satellite and the control systems at #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157238.jpg)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/838839521479376896)
 
At L-6hr, mission controllers at #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) will start the control centre network countdown #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/838840642474291201)
 
Stations supporting #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash)-B launch & first days incl #NewNorcia (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewNorcia?src=hash) #Troll (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Troll?src=hash) #Alaska (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alaska?src=hash) #Yatharagga (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yatharagga?src=hash) #Kiruna (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kiruna?src=hash) #Svalbard (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Svalbard?src=hash). #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157246.jpg)
 
  (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/838840139937890304)
 
ESA & partner tracking stations for are now supporting #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash)-B. Couldn't do it without @kongsbergasa (https://twitter.com/kongsbergasa) & @SSCspace (https://twitter.com/SSCspace) #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185989.jpg) ESA‏Подлинная учетная запись @esa  (https://twitter.com/esa) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esa/status/838851254994481154)

Update from Kourou: #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) : Multifunctional Unit powered on, telemetry systems activated for #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459604250297790464/Yr4aHYY__bigger.png) ESA EarthObservation‏Подлинная учетная запись @ESA_EO  (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/838851803152252930)

Update from #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash): On-board computer activated. Flight software loaded. #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459604250297790464/Yr4aHYY__bigger.png) ESA EarthObservation‏Подлинная учетная запись @ESA_EO  (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) 1 мин назад (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/838861081481216000)

Update from #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash): High altitude wind and solar eruption flares criteria GREEN for launch of #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live  (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/838876451629895680)
 
#Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) went through detailed RF link checks, navigation system tests, flight computer verifications and safety system checkouts.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185989.jpg) ESA‏Подлинная учетная запись @esa  (https://twitter.com/esa) 4 мин назад (https://twitter.com/esa/status/838878771067387906)

Update from Kourou: Vega #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash) with #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) last weather check before gantry removal - status is GREEN #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live  (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/838879194020982784)
 
Since Vega is an all-solid vehicle & its upper stage uses storable prop, the countdown does not include any dynamic events like prop loading

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/838882365183262720)
 
Backup network links from #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) to ground stations on 4 continents have been checked out & confirmed #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459604250297790464/Yr4aHYY__bigger.png) ESA EarthObservation‏Подлинная учетная запись @ESA_EO  (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/838883531057147904)

Update from #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash): Start of gantry removal. #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/838883249879408640)
 
.@ESA (https://twitter.com/esa) teams at Kourou will shortly start configuring #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash)-B for launch under the watchful eye of #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) #MainControlRoom (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MainControlRoom?src=hash) #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459604250297790464/Yr4aHYY__bigger.png) ESA EarthObservation‏Подлинная учетная запись @ESA_EO  (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) 2 мин назад (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/838889063507709956)

Update from #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash): Gantry removal complete. #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) #VV09 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV09?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live  (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/838889207393366018)
 
After gantry removal, #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) repeats telemetry and RF link checks with a clear line of sight to tracking equipment.

ЦитироватьПАРИЖ, 7 мар — РИА Новости. Ракета-носитель Vega успешно стартовала с экваториального космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане.

На борту ракеты-носителя находится спутник Sentinel-2B проекта глобального мониторинга окружающей среды и безопасности "Коперник" (Copernicus). Sentinel-2B — четвертый спутник в проекте "Коперник". Первый — Sentinel-1A — был выведен на орбиту в апреле 2014 года ракетой-носителем "Союз". Спутники работают в паре, находясь на противоположных точках орбиты для обеспечения максимального покрытия.
С начала года это третий запуск с космодрома Куру и первый — с применением ракеты Vega. До сегодняшнего дня этот носитель применялся восемь раз, в первые — в 2012 году.

Программы Sentinel Европейского космического агентства (ЕКА) охватывают пять семейств спутников: Sentinel-1 предназначен для получения комплексных радиолокационных данных со спутников ERS и Envisat. Sentinel-2 и Sentinel-3 обеспечивают мониторинг суши и океана, Sentinel-4 и Sentinel-5 созданы для метеорологических и климатических исследований, основанных на изучении состава атмосферы.

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ЦитироватьБезумный Шляпник пишет:
Ступень 2017-013B / 42064 должна утопиться.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg) Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589  (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 6 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/838967160613519361)

 Vega AVUM stage should be reentering over the Indian Ocean about now (0420 UTC)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg) Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589  (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 5 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/838988634153955328)
 
Correction: the AVUM stage made just over one orbit before reentry, so it was cataloged as 42064/2017-013B.

ЦитироватьOlegIn пишет:
Интересно было бы сделать склейку синхронную последних запусков Веги и Атласа. Чтобы визуально оценить насколько шустрее Вега уходит со стола. Пульнула она сегодня реально очень шустро, в отличие от Атласа без ускорителей, который очень вальяжно поднимался в небо.

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459680535460057088/4bMahzdb_bigger.png) ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations  (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/839918372796121088)
 
With the critical launch & early orbit phase complete, the main control room is kinda deserted tonight! #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) #leop (https://twitter.com/hashtag/leop?src=hash)
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Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459604250297790464/Yr4aHYY__bigger.png) ESA EarthObservation‏Подлинная учетная запись @ESA_EO  (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) 12 мин назад (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/842056064203915264)
 
A 'toast' to #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) B as it delivers its first images - including #Brindisi (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brindisi?src=hash) in #Italy (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Italy?src=hash) http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-2/A_toast_to_Copernicus_Sentinel-2B_as_it_delivers_its_first_images ... (https://t.co/PcX3yZd8Qa) #Sentinel2Go (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2Go?src=hash) @CopernicusEU (https://twitter.com/CopernicusEU)
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Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/459604250297790464/Yr4aHYY__bigger.png) ESA EarthObservation‏Подлинная учетная запись @ESA_EO  (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) 28 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/842053178304663553)

First #Sentinel2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sentinel2?src=hash) image showcased at #WorldCover2017 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCover2017?src=hash) - a success for land monitoring specialists across the globe!
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ЦитироватьA 'toast' to Copernicus Sentinel-2B as it delivers its first images
 
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225382.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2017/03/Brindisi_Italy)
Brindisi, Italy
 
 15 March 2017
 Just over a week after being lofted into orbit, the European Union's Sentinel-2B satellite delivered its first images of Earth, offering a glimpse of the 'colour vision' it will provide for the Copernicus environmental monitoring programme.
 
With a swath width of 290 km, the satellite's first acquisition began over the Baltic Sea and made a strip-like observation through eastern Europe, ending in northern Libya.
 
The data were relayed in real time to the Matera ground station in Italy, where the images were then processed.

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While eastern Europe was mostly cloudy, Italy's sunny skies allowed the teams to get their first glimpse of the multispectral instrument's capabilities over southern Italy's Calabria and Apulia regions, the latter often referred to as the 'heel of the boot'.
 
One of more distinctive features of this first acquisition is Apulia's port city of Brindisi – appropriately the same word for the 'toast' ritual in Italian. Other areas captured in the first pass include the town of Crotone in Calabria and part of Albania's coast.
 
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225385.jpg)  (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2017/03/Crotone_Italy)
Crotone, Italy
 
 The multispectral imager is being calibrated during the commissioning phase – which will take about three months.

 Sentinel-2B is the second in the two-satellite mission for Europe's Copernicus programme. Its twin Sentinel-2A was launched in June 2015. Now that both are in orbit, Sentinel-2 provides repeat coverage every five days.

 In addition to demonstrating the high resolution of 10 m per pixel, these initial data foreshadow the mission's land-monitoring applications in areas such as agriculture, coastal waters and land-cover mapping.

 "Sentinel-2B will be one of the workhorses of Copernicus, as it will enable a whole range of applications with a focus on land," said Josef Aschbacher, Director of ESA's Earth Observation Programmes.

 "With the second Sentinel-2 satellite in orbit, we now have much better coverage – which is especially important for monitoring areas frequently covered by clouds.

 "This will further improve data availability of the Copernicus Services and increase the usage of the Copernicus data."
 
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225391.jpg)  (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2017/03/Karavasta_Lagoon_Albania)
Karavasta Lagoon, Albania
 
 "The Copernicus Services in the areas of land and coastal monitoring rely on Sentinel-2 data," said Philippe Brunet, Director for Space Policy, Copernicus and Defence at the European Commission.
 
"With the launch of the B-unit, the quality of the data products will increase and Copernicus can better manage and protect the environment and natural resources, as well as improve civil security.
 
Six families of Sentinel satellites will make up the core of EU's Copernicus environmental monitoring network. An EU flagship space initiative, Copernicus provides operational information on the world's land surfaces, oceans and atmosphere to support environmental and security policymaking, and meet the needs of citizens and service providers.

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ЦитироватьОпубликовано: 27 мар. 2017 г.
This timelapse video shows Sentinel-2B satellite, from final preparations to liftoff on a Vega launcher, flight VV09, from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, on 7 March 2017.

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum13/topic15867/message1625655/#message1625655

ЦитироватьA 'toast' to Copernicus Sentinel-2B as it delivers its first images
 
 
 Brindisi, Italy
 
 15 March 2017
 Just over a week after being lofted into orbit, the European Union's Sentinel-2B satellite delivered its first images of Earth, offering a glimpse of the 'colour vision' it will provide for the Copernicus environmental monitoring programme.
 

Цитироватьkroton пишет:
Правильные сроки развертывания программы ЛКИ. Что тут еще добавить...