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Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186227.jpg)Nicolas CHAMUSSY‏ @ChamussyN (https://twitter.com/ChamussyN) 5 ч.5 часов назад (https://twitter.com/ChamussyN/status/977103451648864256)


We were happy to welcome @janwoerner (https://twitter.com/janwoerner) & @ESA (https://twitter.com/esa) official delegation for a visit to @AirbusSpace (https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace) in Toulouse. We took the opportunity to see for one of the last times @ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) wind-sensing satellite #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) before its shipment to #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash).
 (https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/file/81374)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/32603.jpg)Avio‏ @Avio_Group (https://twitter.com/Avio_Group) 23 мар. (https://twitter.com/Avio_Group/status/977190656618782720)

As part of the series of tests being carried out at Intespace in Toulouse, France, the #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) satellite has been given a 'fit check' to see that it can be connected to its #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) rocket. Aeolus will be launched from Europe's Spaceport in French #Guiana (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Guiana?src=hash) in the autumn of 2018 #Avio (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Avio?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174566.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67501.jpg)Airbus Space‏Подлинная учетная запись @AirbusSpace (https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace) 26 мар. (https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace/status/978157099480993794)


Some news from #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash): the wind sensing satellite built by Airbus for @esa (https://twitter.com/esa) is currently in our cleanrooms to undergo final checks before being shipped to French Guiana in the summer ready for launch on a Vega

ЦитироватьThe preparation of aeolus for his departure to French Guyana is progressing normally. It  seems to be sleeping but aeolus is working hard. Operators and software engineers are correcting software and procedures errors that were encountered during aeolusfunctional tests. Correcting is mostly about verifying that the corrections work in all imaginable situations ! Cables that show aeolus as under perfusion actually provide the stimuli that it would receive if it was in orbit.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125727.jpg)
photo Miguel Gallego, Airbus Defence & Space
aeolus in a clean room of Intespace in Toulouse, connected to the environement simulators
 

ЦитироватьThe date of aeolus launch is (finally) official. It will be August 21, 2018, at 18:20 Kourou time, 23:20 Paris time. aeolus will be put into orbit by the 12th model of Vega, the smallest launcher that is available to Arianespace in French Guiana. The launch campaign will begin the very first days of July. This blog will follow the day-to-day campaign.
In the meantime, aeolus functional tests are running without any major hitch.

ЦитироватьPIN пишет:
Этот аппарат когда-то планировался на первый пуск Веги...

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125728.jpg)
light flood test
aeolus is getting back its solar arrays. The first solar array was connected, mechanically and electrically. The electrical connection is confirmed by a light flood test. The lighting in the clean room is off. The panels of the solar array are lit, one after the other, by a work lamp. The screen of the telemetry of aeolus screen shows the power generated, weak of course, but well present.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125729.jpg)
screen from Torsten Wehr, Airbus Defense and Space
 
The « green » indicators at the top left of the screen show the generated power.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67501.jpg)Airbus Space‏Подлинная учетная запись @AirbusSpace (https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace) 12 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace/status/999916536876777472)

The final installation of the solar panels on Aeolus the wind-sensing satellite (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) is completed. (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125614.png) #BehindTheScenes (https://twitter.com/hashtag/BehindTheScenes?src=hash) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png) Launch scheduled this summer from #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash) on Vega rocket.

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ЦитироватьEarth from space: special edition

European Space Agency, ESA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBaDdAbGlFDeS33shmlD0A)

Опубликовано: 13 июн. 2018 г.

Discover more about our planet with the Earth from Space video programme. In this special edition, ESA's Aeolus Project Manager, Anders Elfving, joins us in the cleanroom at Airbus Defence and Space in Toulouse, France, to talk about the challenges in developing the mission's pioneering laser technology.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29242.jpg)DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace) 55 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1007623905320763392)

In a rare move, the @ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) spacecraft will take the boat to #CSG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSG?src=hash) instead of the plane, aircraft's possible rapid descent in case of emergency is of concern to its sensitive instrument, hence the use of the boat, more here -> http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Aeolus/Aeolus_sets_sail ... (https://t.co/nyjgvjx3mw) #ESA (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESA?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/165260.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225259.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/)

AEOLUS SETS SAIL

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225566.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/06/Aeolus_boarding)
Aeolus boarding

15 June 2018
Today is Global Wind Day, which couldn't be more apt for ESA's Aeolus wind satellite to begin its voyage to the launch site in French Guiana. And, while almost all satellites journey by aircraft, Aeolus is different, it's going by ship.

Scheduled to liftoff on a Vega rocket on 21 August at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST) fr om Europe's spaceport near Kourou, Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit.

This pioneering mission uses powerful laser technology that probes the lowermost 30 km of our atmosphere to yield vertical profiles of the wind and information on aerosols and clouds.

Since the instrument is sensitive to pressure change, ESA and Airbus Defence and Space engineers decided that the safest way for it to journey from France, wh ere it has been going through testing, to French Guiana would be by ship.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225573.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/06/Ready_to_load_Aeolus)
Ready to load Aeolus

Denny Wernham, ESA's Aeolus instrument expert, explains, "Going by ship may seem a little strange, after all it will take around 12 days to get there instead of a matter of hours, but if, for whatever reason, the aircraft had to descend rapidly and there was a sudden increase in air pressure, Aeolus' instrument could be damaged.

"It was designed, of course, to allow for the pressure drop during launch ascent so that it could be taken into orbit, but not for a fast descent. So basically, once it's up, it's up.

"So, today we see our beloved satellite and all of its support equipment being loaded onto a ship in Saint Nazaire in western France and set forth across the Atlantic. And, indeed, it is kind of ironic: our high-tech wind satellite is travelling by a means that many years ago relied on the wind."

Aeolus has, without doubt, been a challenging satellite mission to develop. Nevertheless, this long-awaited mission is now set to not only improve our understanding of how the atmosphere works and contribute to climate change research, but will also help to predict extreme events such as hurricanes. It will also help to better understand and model large-scale wind patterns driving weather such as El Niño.

https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/public/videos/2018/06/018/1806_018_AR_EN.mp4 (https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/public/videos/2018/06/018/1806_018_AR_EN.mp4)
Earth's wind system
Access the video (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2018/06/Earth_s_wind_system)

While Aeolus is set to advance science, it will also bring considerable benefits to society by improving weather forecasts.

Aeolus measures the wind around the globe and delivers its measurements almost in real time, which is exactly what meteorological centres are waiting for to improve our forecasts.

ESA's Aeolus project manager, Anders Elfving, said, "Today marks a very special day for us. After being such a long time in the making, Aeolus officially passed its 'qualification review' yesterday.

"This means its full steam ahead with what we call the launch campaign – essentially getting to the launch site and preparing the satellite for liftoff on 21 August."

ESA's Aeolus mission scientist, Anne Grete Straume, added, "I like the fact that our shipment date coincides with Global Wind Day. Aeolus will certainly advance science, but among its potential practical application areas is the wind energy industry.

"This industry needs to know how much energy they can produce at any one time – and for that they need accurate forecasts. We certainly hope that our mission will be able to help out there."

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Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186177.jpg)ESA EarthObservation‏Подлинная учетная запись @ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) 17 ч.17 часов назад (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO/status/1007632169290948610)


Today is Global #Wind (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wind?src=hash) Day, which couldn't be more apt for @esa (https://twitter.com/esa)'s #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) wind satellite to begin its sea voyage to the launch site in French Guiana. May the winds be ever in your favour

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg)Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 29 июн. (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/1012723377239478273)

#Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash), which will be the first-ever satellite to directly observe wind profiles from space, has arrived in French Guiana ahead of its #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) launch in late August. Built by @AirbusSpace (https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace), it is part of @ESA (https://twitter.com/esa)'s Living Planet Programme. #VV12 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV12?src=hash)

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ЦитироватьArianespace aims for busy second half of 2018
July 3, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/07/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Europe's first mission to Mercury, a quartet of Galileo navigation spacecraft, a global winds observatory, and a new European weather satellite have arrived at an equatorial launch base in French Guiana in preparation for launches in the coming months.

The set of European missions are set to ride into space aboard four rockets, amid several more commercial flights carrying communications satellites to orbit, in what is shaping up to be a busy second half of the year for Arianespace, the French company which oversees Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega launch operations at the European-run spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

The rapid-fire launch campaigns are already underway at the space center on the northeastern coast of South America, where technicians are preparing rocket and satellite hardware for liftoff.

ESA's Aeolus winds mission arrives in French Guiana

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Arianespace's next mission, set for Aug. 21 at 2120 GMT (5:20 p.m. EDT; 6:20 p.m. French Guiana time), will use a light-class solid-fueled Vega launcher to place ESA's Aeolus Earth science satellite into orbit.

ESA says Aeolus will be the first mission to measure wind profiles on a global scale, employing an ultraviolet laser instrument to probe the lowest 18 miles (30 kilometers) of Earth's atmosphere, collecting data on winds, aerosols and clouds at different altitudes.

The wind measurements will help scientists understand how the atmosphere works, and also support improved climate change predictions, and better forecasts of hurricanes.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144684.jpg)
ESA's Aeolus satellite is pictured inside a clean room at Airbus Defense and Space's facility in Toulouse, France, before shipment to the launch base in French Guiana. Credit: ESA – M. Pedoussaut

Aeolus arrived in Cayenne, French Guiana, on June 27 on ship that carried it on a nearly two-week journey from France, and the satellite was trucked to the nearby space center to begin launch preparations.

While workers stack the four-stage Vega rocket on its launch pad, technicians inside a clean room at the Guiana Space Center will ensure Aeolus survived the trip to the launch base unscathed, then load propellant into the spacecraft.

The Aug. 21 liftoff will mark the 12th launch of a Vega rocket, developed by a European consortium led by Italian industry, and the first Vega flight of 2018. The Vega rocket will place the Aeolus spacecraft into a relatively low orbit around 200 miles (320 kilometers) above Earth.

Officials from ESA and Airbus Defense and Space, which built the Aeolus spacecraft, decided to transport the satellite across the Atlantic Ocean on a ship rather than on an aircraft. Engineers were worried the Aeolus mission's sophisticated laser instrument could be damaged by a sudden pressure change inside a transport plane's cargo bay.

The roughly 3,000-pound (1,360-kilogram) satellite is designed to handle the pressure change it will encounter during launch, but not the quick rise in pressure it would have seen during a sudden descent.

Aeolus will be ESA's fifth Earth Explorer mission to launch, the next in a series of Earth science projects that have studied Earth's ice sheets, oceans, water cycle, and magnetic and gravity fields.

The mission took twice as long to develop as originally planned after ESA started working on Aeolus in 2002.

"It's the first time we've done this kind of instrument, in ultraviolet, ever in the world," said Anders Elfving, ESA's Aeolus project manager. "So it's really a breakthrough technology. It's learning how to master these technologies. There is no reference, and we could not fall back on another mission, so we had to find out al the troubles and solutions by ourselves the first time."

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Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29242.jpg)DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1014408044946522112)

This week will be interesting at #CSG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSG?src=hash) there will be a "Dance of the launchers" Ariane 5 #VA243 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VA243?src=hash) will move from BAF to ZL3 so our Ariane 5 #VA244 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VA244?src=hash) can move from BIL to BAF, after which #VA243 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VA243?src=hash) can move back into BIL, at the same time the Vega P80 stage for #VV12 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV12?src=hash) will move to ZLV

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166157.jpg)

ЦитироватьAEOLUS TO UNDERSTAND WINDS

https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/public/videos/2018/06/039/1806_039_AR_EN.mp4 (https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/public/videos/2018/06/039/1806_039_AR_EN.mp4)
DOWNLOAD MP4 (29.74 MB) (https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/public/videos/2018/06/039/1806_039_AR_EN.mp4)
SOURCE MP4 (130.71 MB) (https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/public/videos/2018/06/039/orig-1806_039_AR_EN.mp4)

DETAILS (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/206023.gif) (https://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2018/06/Aeolus_to_understand_winds#)

[/li]
• Title Aeolus to understand winds
• Released: 06/07/2018
• Length 00:03:33
• Language English
• Copyright ESA
• Description
  
  At the Airbus Defence and Space facility in Toulouse, France, ESA's Aeolus wind satellite has been prepared for its launch on top of a Vega rocket from Kourou in French Guiana. Liftoff is currently scheduled for August. The development of this latest Earth Explorer started 16 years ago and has now finished.
  
  From orbit Aeolus will measure wind profiles on a global scale using a pioneering laser technology. These measurements will greatly benefit existing meteorological models and fill a gap in the observations of wind.
  

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225259.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/)

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR AEOLUS LAUNCH

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225575.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/07/Aeolus_arrives)
Aeolus arrives

6 July 2018
Having set sail fr om France on 15 June - Global Wind Day, ESA's Aeolus wind satellite has arrived safe and sound at the launch site in French Guiana.

While almost all satellites travel by aircraft, Aeolus' journey was rather different – it travelled all the way across the Atlantic from Saint Nazare, western France to the Port of Cayenne, French Guiana by ship.

Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. A 12-day journey was undertaken to avoid potential damage caused by air re-pressurisation during descent had the satellite travelled by air – a quicker but decidedly riskier option.

Upon its long-awaited arrival, the team unloaded Aeolus and its support equipment. The containers were then carefully positioned on a truck to be transported to the launch site about 60 km away, wh ere the satellite container was moved into the airlock, to stabilise after its long journey.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225576.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/07/Aeolus_on_the_integration_trolley)
Aeolus on the integration trolley

The satellite was then removed from its container, placed on its integration trolley for testing and connected to its electrical support equipment. Initial checks indicate that Aeolus has withstood its journey from France in good condition.

ESA's Aeolus project manager, Anders Elfving, said, "We are obviously all extremely pleased that Aeolus has now arrived at the launch site. An awful lot of work and planning went into making sure it arrived safe and sound – now it's full steam ahead for preparing the satellite for liftoff on 21 August."

A range of checks will be carried out on the satellite in the cleanroom before the scheduled liftoff on a Vega rocket on 21 August at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST) from Europe's spaceport near Kourou.

This pioneering mission is set to provide global wind-profile data, using powerful laser technology that probes the lowermost 30 km of our atmosphere to yield vertical profiles of the wind and information on aerosols and clouds.

The mission will improve our understanding of how atmosphere dynamics work and contribute to climate change research. At the same time, it will also help to predict extreme events such as hurricanes and help us to better understand and model large-scale wind patterns driving weather such as El Niño.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225697.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2018/06/Aeolus_to_understand_winds)
Aeolus to understand winds
Access the video (https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2018/06/Aeolus_to_understand_winds)

It is also expected to bring considerable benefits to society by improving weather forecasts. Its global wind measurements, delivered almost in real time, are exactly what meteorological centres are looking for to improve their forecasts.

ESA's Aeolus mission scientist, Anne Grete Straume, added, "We expect Aeolus to advance science, whilst at the same time having a range of potential practical application areas by improving forecasts, which is of importance to the wind energy industry, for example. Accurate forecasts are just one of the ways in which our mission will be able to help".

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Цитировать

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Mariangela (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/mariangela/)

AEOLUS UNVEILED AND SWITCHED ON

Following its arrival at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 29 June, the Aeolus satellite has been taken out from its transport container, placed on its integration trolley for testing and connected to its electrical support equipment.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101177.jpg)
Aeolus revealed (ESA – G. Labruyère)

Initial checks indicate that both Aeolus and its instrument have withstood its journey from France in good condition.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101176.jpg)
Aeolus positioned on trolley (ESA – G. Labruyère)

ESA's Aeolus project manager, Anders Elfving, said, "We are obviously all extremely pleased that Aeolus has now arrived at the launch site. An awful lot of work and planning went into making sure it arrived safe and sound  – now it's full steam ahead for preparing the satellite for liftoff on 21 August."

The team has also done the ' launch adapter fit check', which is to make sure that the satellite actually fits the Vega rocket adapter and confirms that everything is aligned. This too went well.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101175.jpg)
Checking that Aeolus fits its launch adapter (ESA – G. Labruyère)

Cranes were then used to position Aeolus back on its integration stand.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101165.jpg)
...and back on the trolley (ESA – G. Labruyère)

It hasn't been all work work work for the team though. Some of them managed to get a quick look at the launch site: the Aeolus flag, the Ariane 5 rocket moving on the launch pad and the Soyuz launch pad.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101167.jpg)
Aeolus flag (ESA)

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(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101168.jpg)
Ariane 5 moving on the launch pad (ESA)
 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101170.jpg)
In front of the Soyuz launch tower (ESA)

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Цитировать

Posted on July 10, 2018 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

AEOLUS: SHINY TELESCOPE, HAIRY SPIDER

With the campaign to launch ESA's Aeolus wind satellite on 21 August well underway, the satellite's telescope has been opened and expected to make sure it is perfectly clean and shiny.

While Aeolus' novel laser technology is arguably the sexy part of the instrument, its telescope, which measures around 1.5 m across, it pretty dominant and equally important. It is used to collect backscattered light from the atmosphere and direct it to the receiver.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101180.jpg)
Super shiny telescope. (ESA)

In short, the laser system generates a series of short pulses of ultraviolet light which are beamed down into the atmosphere. The telescope collects the light backscattered from particles of gas and dust in the atmosphere. The time between sending the light pulse and receiving the signal back determines the distance to the 'scatterers' and therefore the altitude above Earth. As the scattering particles are moving in the wind, the wavelength of the scattered light is shifted by a small amount as a function of speed. The Doppler wind lidar measures this change so that the velocity of the wind can be determined.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101181.jpg)
Reflection of hands in telescope. (ESA)

It is clearly important to make sure that the instrument is absolutely spotless, so engineers at the launch site in Kourou have first turned to the telescope before its cover is replaced.

ESA's Gilles Labruyere said, "It's always is an optical puzzle to look into the telescope and try to identify what one sees and in what direction! The surfaces of the two mirrors are almost perfectly reflective. The engineers who do this certainly have to adjust their eyes afterwards."

Following the inspection they concluded that the telescope is 'very clean and can fly as is'.
While the telescope is clean and shiny, some of the wildlife that the team has encountered outside the cleanroom seems to be quite the opposite.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101163.jpg)
Local friend. (ESA)

A lovely black hairy spider for instance .... about 8 cm across .... eeeek!
Kourou is, of course, very close to the equator with tropical jungle on the door step, so the local wildlife is certainly...... well let's say 'interesting'.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101179.jpg)
Swampy jungle. (ESA)

Back in Europe, the spacecraft operations team in German has completed another series of orbit simulations. The simulations were supported by a big 14 people team from Airbus Defence & Space France, Airbus Defence & Space UK, Leonardo and ESA.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101169.jpg)
Running orbit simulations. (ESA)

And .... although getting a satellite ready for liftoff and its life in orbit is an extremely high-tech and skilled job, our engineers sometimes have to turn their hand to something a little more mundane like fixing a chair ... all part of a day's work!

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101166.jpg)
Satellite engineer and chair fixer. (ESA)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьEarth from Space: special edition

European Space Agency, ESA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBaDdAbGlFDeS33shmlD0A)

Опубликовано: 11 июл. 2018 г.

Discover more about our planet with the Earth from Space video programme. In this special edition, ESA's Aeolus mission scientist, Anne Grete Straume, joins us in the cleanroom at Airbus Defence and Space in Toulouse, France. She explains how winds are generated, how they affect our weather, and how Aeolus will measure the wind and how this information will be used to improve weather forecasts and climate models.

Цитировать

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

AEOLUS: ENGINEER OR SURGEON?

The Aeolus launch campaign team at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, reports that the 'functional tests' has been done and that Aeolus is working well.

The satellite is held in a vertical position, allowing engineers to access the different components. They have tested the pressure of the propulsion tanks, piping, valves, filters and thrusters.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101172.jpg)
Vertical for testing. (ESA)

The most recent tests included working on the radiator. The photo shows one of the 'quality engineers' taking a very careful look here. He looks a bit like a surgeon!

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101173.jpg)
Engineer or surgeon? (ESA)

Some tests are automated, such as checking the onboard software and making sure that the satellite receives commands.So with everything going well, the next milestone will be the all-important reviews on this first part of the campaign, after which the focus will be mainly on fuelling the satellite.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101171.jpg)
Aeolus standing proud. (ESA)

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Liftoff set for: 21 August at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST).

ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=vega) | July 16, 2018

Europe's Aeolus "wind satellite" arrives in French Guiana for Arianespace's August launch with Vega

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223156.jpg)
Enclosed in its protective shipping container, Aeolus is unloaded fr om its sea-going transport vessel after arriving at French Guiana's Port of Cayenne.

The Aeolus passenger for Arianespace's next Vega mission is now in French Guiana, where payload preparations are beginning for an August liftoff from the Spaceport.

While most spacecraft are delivered to the South American launch site via cargo aircraft, Aeolus – a "wind satellite" carrying one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit – was transported by ship.

Considering the instrument's sensitivity to pressure change, engineers decided this was the safest method to transfer Aeolus from France, wh ere it was produced by prime contractor Airbus. The voyage took approximately 12 days to complete, concluding at French Guiana's Port of Cayenne.

Once at the Spaceport, Aeolus was removed from its protective shipping container in the S5 payload preparation facility, enabling the pre-launch checkout process to begin.

Спойлер

Enabling more accurate forecasts

Developed as part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Living Planet Program, Aeolus aims to further knowledge of Earth's atmosphere and weather systems. By recording and monitoring the weather in different parts of the world, it will allow scientists to build complex models of the environment – which can then be used to help predict how that environment will behave in the future.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/222993.jpg) (http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/7-16-2018-VV12-lg.jpg)
In the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation facility, Aeolus is readied for removal from the container that protected this Airbus-built spacecraft during its trans-Atlantic crossing from Europe to South America.

The pioneering Aeolus mission uses powerful laser technology that probes the lowermost 30 km. of Earth's atmosphere to yield vertical profiles of the wind, as well as information on aerosols and clouds. While there are several ways of measuring wind from a satellite, Aeolus will utilize the active Doppler Wind Lidars (DWL) method – which is the only one able to provide the required data globally, from direct wind observations.

Designated VV12 in Arianespace's numbering system, next month's Vega mission will mark the light-lift vehicle's 12th flight from French Guiana since beginning operations from this equatorial launch site in 2012. It also will be the first Vega mission performed by Arianespace in 2018.

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Posted on July 19, 2018 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

AEOLUS: REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT

When preparing a satellite for launch, the engineers use big red tags to mark components that must be removed before the satellite is encapsulated in the rocket fairing and launched. The idea is to remove these components as late as possible in the launch campaign, and the red tags serve as an important reminder do so.

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(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101184.jpg)
Startracker covers to be removed before flight. (ESA)

These items are usually covers that protect things like optics, connectors and so on. Very careful attention is paid to removing these items because if one is forgotten, the satellite will not work properly and there's a good chance that the mission will be lost.

ESA's Gilles Labruyère, who is currently working on the Aeolus campaign in Kourou, said, "There are stories of satellites being lost because an antenna or a solar array couldn't deploy.

"To make sure nothing is forgotten, all of the items are listed and get checked off on removal. We also have cases with holes that are the same shape of every red tag. If a hole remains unfilled, liftoff is prohibited."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101185.jpg)
Red tag items. (ESA)

While the engineers have spent the last couple of days making sure that this painstaking task is done, they were also able to witness something pretty exciting, albeit fr om afar – an important milestone in the development of Europe's new generation of launchers.

On 16 July, there was the hot firing of the P120C solid-propellant motor to prove its flight-worthiness for use on the Vega-C rocket next year and on Ariane 6 from 2020. Read more: Hot firing proves solid rocket motor for Ariane 6 and Vega-C (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Hot_firing_proves_solid_rocket_motor_for_Ariane_6_and_Vega-C).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101174.jpg)
Hot firing of the P120C solid-propellant proves flight-worthiness for Vega-C next year and on Ariane 6 from 2020. (D. Thibault)

The photo above shows the cloud of smoke from the test site several kilometres away. The yellow and white building on the right is the cleanroom wh ere Aeolus is being prepared for launch on 21 August.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101183.jpg)
Finishing the thermal blanket and disconnecting the electronics cabinets. (ESA)

The campaign to launch ESA's Aeolus wind satellite is well underway and going well. Any spare time that the engineers have can be spent trekking through the wonderful tropical forest of French Guiana!

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101182.jpg)
Opportunities for walking in spare time. (ESA)

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Posted on July 25, 2018 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

AEOLUS: CLEAN FOR THE BIG DAY

Usually work is well and truly focused on cleanroom activities, but today some of the Aeolus team in Kourou were lucky enough to get a view of the launch of four Galileo on an Ariane 5.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101164.jpg)
Galileo lifts off. (ESA)

Galileo is Europe's own global satellite navigation system, consisting of both the satellites in space and their associated ground infrastructure. These latest four Galileo satellites will bring the constellation in orbit up to 26 satellites.

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(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101186.jpg)
Being moved from the integration stand. (ESA)

Good timing Aeolus team!

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101187.jpg)
Cleaning in process. (ESA)

Back to Aeolus and tasks are being ticked off the 'to do' list in the run up to launch on 21 August.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101188.jpg)
An ultraviolet torch is used to detect dust. (ESA)

The satellite has been cleaned, centimetre by centimetre. A faint purple light can be seen in the photo above, but this is actually a powerful ultraviolet torch the team uses to detect particles of dust. If any particles are found, they are removed with a soft brush and a vacuum cleaner.  This is a bit of a tedious task, but one that is necessary.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101189.jpg)
Fuel waiting. (ESA)

The satellite has also been placed on a vertical stand, which will be used for fuelling. And the fuel is ready and waiting – and and the photo shows, the team is a happy team.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101192.jpg)
Happy team. (ESA)

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Posted on August 2, 2018 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

AEOLUS FUELLED

With liftoff less than three weeks away, ESA's Aeolus satellite has been fuelled and is almost ready to be sealed within its Vega rocket fairing.

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Getting a satellite ready to be launched involves a long list of jobs, some of which are trickier than others.

Since hydrazine is extremely toxic, only specialists dressed in bulky astronaut-like suits remained in the cleanroom for the duration of the activity.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101213.jpg)
Fuelling team. (ESA/CNES/Arianespace)

Aeolus has been at Europe's spaceport near Kourou, French Guiana, since early July where it has been tested and now being readied for liftoff on 21 August at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST).

Now that Aeolus is fuelled, the next job on the list is to place it in the Vega rocket fairing.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101201.jpg)
Aeolus and Vega fairing. (ESA)

This pioneering mission is set to provide global wind-profile data, using powerful laser technology that probes the lowermost 30 km of our atmosphere to yield vertical profiles of the wind and information on aerosols and clouds.

The mission will improve our understanding of how atmosphere dynamics work and contribute to climate change research. At the same time, it will also help to predict extreme events such as hurricanes and help us to better understand and model large-scale wind patterns driving weather such as El Niño.

It is also expected to bring considerable benefits to society by improving weather forecasts. Its global wind measurements, delivered almost in real time, are exactly what meteorological centres are looking for to improve their forecasts.

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ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=vega) | August 7, 2018

Aeolus is fueled in preparation for Arianespace's Vega launch of this climate-monitoring satellite

Europe's satellite for the first space mission to profile the wind on a global scale has taken a major step closer to its Vega launch by Arianespace this month with the spacecraft's fueling at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

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(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223165.jpg)
Aeolus is fueled in the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation facility as the LIDAR-equipped satellite is prepared for an August 21 Arianespace mission with the light-lift Vega launcher.

The Aeolus spacecraft was "topped off" during activity in the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation building. The next step will be Aeolus' encapsulation in the fairing that is to protect the satellite during Vega's climb-out through the atmosphere's denser layers.

Aeolus will be lofted on Arianespace's Flight VV12, signifying the 12th mission with the company's light-lift Vega. Its scheduled liftoff on August 21 will be performed from the Spaceport's Vega Launch Complex, with the launcher provided to Arianespace by production prime contractor ELV.

The satellite will provide much-needed data to improve the quality of weather forecasts and contribute to long-term climate research. It was built by Airbus and carries a single instrument – a laser Doppler wind LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system called Aladin, which is to probe the lowermost 30 km. of the atmosphere to measure winds around the Earth.

A powerful laser for Aeolus' wind measurements

Aladin fires a powerful ultraviolet laser pulse down through the atmosphere and collects backscattered light using a large 1.5-meter-diameter telescope. The data is analyzed on board by highly sensitive receivers to determine the Doppler shift of the signal from layers at different heights in the atmosphere.

The LIDAR's near-real-time observations will provide reliable wind-profile data to meteorologists, enabling them to further improve the accuracy of numerical weather and climate prediction, and advance the understanding of tropical dynamics and processes relevant to climate variability.

Managed by the European Space Agency (ESA), Aeolus is the fifth in the family of its Earth Explorer missions, which address key scientific challenges identified by the science community and demonstrate breakthrough technology in observing techniques.

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Posted on August 9, 2018 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

AEOLUS: SEALED AND SIGNED

As preparations for the launch of ESA's latest Earth Explorer continue on track, the team at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana has bid farewell to the Aeolus satellite as it was sealed from view in its Vega rocket fairing – always an emotional moment for the team.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101202.jpg)
Aeolus ready for encapsulation. (ESA)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101206.jpg)
It's all about precision. (ESA/CNES/Arianespace)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101207.jpg)
Carefully does it. (ESA/CNES/Arianespace)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101208.jpg)
Time to say farewell. (ESA/CNES/Arianespace)

Once encapsulated in the rocket faring, the team signed the fairing sticker ... many wishes for a bon voyage and successful mission.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101203.jpg)
Sealed and time to sign the fairing sticker. (ESA)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101204.jpg)
Good luck messages. (ESA)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101205.jpg)
Love from Gilles. (ESA)

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The next major milestone on the road to launch will be the roll out to the launch pad and installation in the launch tower.

Liftoff is set for 21 August at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST).

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225259.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/)

AEOLUS SEALED FROM VIEW

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225588.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/08/Encapsulation)
Encapsulation

9 August 2018
As preparations for the launch of ESA's latest Earth Explorer continue on track, the team at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana has bid farewell to the Aeolus satellite as it was sealed from view in its Vega rocket fairing. Liftoff is set for 21 August at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST).

Спойлер

Since its arrival at the launch site in early July, Aeolus has been thoroughly tested and fuelled with hydrazine.

Like all of ESA's Earth Explorer missions, Aeolus will fill a gap in our knowledge of how our planet works and show how novel technology can be used to observe Earth from space.

Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. The first of its kind, the Aladin instrument includes revolutionary laser technology to generate pulses of ultraviolet light that are beamed down into the atmosphere to profile the world's winds – a completely new approach to measuring the wind from space.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225591.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/08/Ready_for_the_Vega_fairing)
Ready for the Vega fairing

Highlighted by the World Meteorological Organization, the lack of direct global wind measurements is one of the major deficits in the Global Observing System.

By filling this gap, Aeolus will give scientists the information they need to understand how wind, pressure, temperature and humidity are interlinked.

This pioneering mission will provide insight into how the wind influences the exchange of heat and moisture between Earth's surface and the atmosphere – important aspects for understanding climate change.

While Aeolus is set to advance science, it will also benefit society.

Although weather forecasts have advanced considerably in recent years, Aeolus will provide global wind profiles to improve the accuracy even further.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225339.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2015/06/Measuring_cyclones)
Measuring cyclones

In addition, its data will be used in air-quality models to improve forecasts of dust and other airborne particles that affect public health.

Developing new space technology is never easy and Aeolus has certainly been a long time in the making. But now this extraordinary satellite is safely sealed inside its rocket fairing ready for its ride into space.

The next major milestone on the road to launch will be the roll out to the launch pad and installation in the launch tower.

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Posted on August 10, 2018 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

AEOLUS ON A ROLL

After being sealed within its Vega rocket fairing, Aeolus has been rolled out to the launch pad at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Here it will join the rest of the rocket in the launch tower in preparation for liftoff on 21 August at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101199.jpg)
Aeolus has left the building. (ESA)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101195.jpg)
Aeolus rolls out to launch pad. (ESA)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg)Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/1029031858628120577)

5 satellites at Spaceport for upcoming #Arianespace (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arianespace?src=hash) flights w/ #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash), #Ariane5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ariane5?src=hash) & #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash): #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) (@ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO)); #BepiColombo (https://twitter.com/hashtag/BepiColombo?src=hash) (@esascience (https://twitter.com/esascience)); #MetOpC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MetOpC?src=hash) (@ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO)); #AZERSPACE2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZERSPACE2?src=hash) (@AzercosmosOJSCo (https://twitter.com/AzercosmosOJSCo)); #Horizons3e (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Horizons3e?src=hash) (@INTELSAT (https://twitter.com/INTELSAT) #SkyPerfectJSAT (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SkyPerfectJSAT?src=hash)). We're proud to deliver for cutting-edge missions!

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167806.jpg)

ЦитироватьAeolus: preparing for launch

European Space Agency, ESA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBaDdAbGlFDeS33shmlD0A)

Опубликовано: 14 авг. 2018 г.

ESA's Martin Kaspers joins us at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, where Aeolus is being readied for liftoff on 21 August 2018. Martin discusses some of the challenges they have encountered developing this state-of-the-art satellite mission. Aeolus uses powerful laser technology that probes the lowermost 30 km of our atmosphere to yield vertical profiles of the wind and information on aerosols and clouds – a completely new approach to measuring the wind from space.

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Posted on August 14, 2018 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

AEOLUS IN LAUNCH TOWER

ESA's Aeolus wind satellite is poised for liftoff from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This latest Earth Explorer satellite has been at the launch site since early July being readied for its ride into space on 21 August at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101211.jpg)
Up she goes. (ESA/CNES/Arianespace)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101209.jpg)
Aeolus almost at the top of the launch tower. (ESA/CNES/Arianespace)

Aeolus was sealed from view in its Vega rocket fairing last week, after which it was rolled out to the launch pad, hoisted into the launch tower and joined to the rest of the rocket.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101210.jpg)
Hissage composite en ZLV, le 09/08/2018

ESA's Gilles Labruyère said, "The umbilicals are connected. The charge of the battery can start. Apart from talking through cables, there are very few ways to touch Aeolus. The fairing has a small door, but no windows!"

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101212.jpg)
Being fitted to the rest of the Vega rocket. (ESA)

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ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/press-releases/?taxonomy%5Bpress-release-category%5D=vega) | August 14, 2018

Flight VV12: The Arianespace Vega launcher will orbit ESA's Aeolus wind mission

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223164.jpg)

For Arianespace's fifth launch of the year, and the first in 2018 with Vega, the company will orbit the Aeolus satellite – the world's first space mission to acquire profiles of the Earth's wind on a global scale, on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA).

This will be the 12th mission of the Vega launcher, which once again is to demonstrate its versatility and perfect adaptation to European missions dedicated to Earth observation.

The liftoff will be from the Vega Launch Complex (SLV) in Kourou, French Guiana (South America).

The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) will take place on Monday, August 20, 2018 in Kourou, to authorize the start of operations for the final countdown.

ESA's Aeolus satellite will be equipped with a single instrument: a Doppler wind LIDAR called Aladin (Atmospheric LAser Doppler INstrument) – an advanced laser system designed to timely and accurately measure global wind-profiles from space. Aeolus will probe the atmosphere with pioneering ultraviolet laser pulses, which will enhance the understanding of tropical dynamics and processes relevant to climate variability.

The Aeolus mission will provide much-needed data to improve the quality of weather forecasting, contributing to long-term climate research.

Flight VV12 is the embodiment of a long-standing, fruitful relationship between ESA and Arianespace. Indeed, it will be the 50th mission launched by Arianespace for the European Space Agency, guaranteeing independent and reliable access to space for Europe, and benefitting the world's citizens through investments in space technologies.

Airbus Defence and Space is the Aeolus satellite's manufacturer.

[/li]
• 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://arianespace.com/) or to youtube.com/arianespace on August 21, 2018, starting 15 minutes before liftoff.
  

ЦитироватьArianespace TV - VV12 VEGA COMING SOON !

arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 14 авг. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьAeolus: of weather and winds

European Space Agency, ESA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBaDdAbGlFDeS33shmlD0A)

Опубликовано: 16 авг. 2018 г.

Thanks to the wind, heat is distributed around the planet. Equatorial regions receive more heat from the Sun than other parts of the world. This leads to differences in air temperature, density and pressure, which in turn, cause the air to move – creating wind. This movement of air constitutes the general circulation of the atmosphere, transporting heat away from equatorial regions towards the poles, and returning cooler air to the tropics. The wind clearly plays an important role in weather forecasts, which in turn are not only important for planning our daily affairs, but vital for numerous commercial activities such as farming, fishing, transport, and for taking appropriate measures when extreme weather is on the horizon. Although weather forecasts have advanced considerably in recent years, there is a need for global wind measurements to improve them even further. ESA's Aeolus mission will fill this gap by providing global wind-profiles in near-real time. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts will process these data and the data in their numerical weather prediction models, which will lead to better forecasting.

ЦитироватьAriane 5 (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=ariane-5), Vega (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=vega) | August 16, 2018

Payload preparations advance for Arianespace's upcoming Vega and Ariane 5 missions

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223166.jpg)
Encapsulated in its protective payload fairing, Aeolus is positioned atop the launch vehicle inside the mobile gantry at the Spaceport's Vega Launch Complex.

The payload processing for Arianespace's two upcoming missions from French Guiana is moving ahead at the Spaceport, involving the European Space Agency's Aeolus wind-monitoring spacecraft for a Vega liftoff scheduled on August 21; ...

During a busy period of activity across the Spaceport, Aeolus has been hoisted to the upper level of the Vega Launch Complex' protective mobile gantry and integrated atop its light-lift launcher. ...

Aeolus will be orbited during the mission designated Flight VV12 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system, providing much-needed data to improve the quality of weather forecasts and contribute to long-term climate research. It was built by Airbus Defence and Space and carries a laser Doppler wind LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system called Aladin to probe the lowermost 30 km. of the atmosphere in measuring winds around the Earth.

Profiling wind patterns around the Earth with Aeolus

The LIDAR's near-real-time observations will provide reliable wind-profile data to further improve the accuracy of numerical weather and climate prediction, and advance the understanding of tropical dynamics and processes relevant to climate variability.

Aeolus is the eighth Earth observation mission performed by Arianespace for the European Space Agency, which address key scientific challenges identified by the science community and demonstrate breakthrough technology in observing techniques. The spacecraft will be placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit.

Flight VV12 is targeted for an evening launch on August 21 and will be the 12th flight with Vega since its introduction at the Spaceport in February 2012. The light-lift launcher is provided to Arianespace by prime contractor Avio of Italy.
...

ЦитироватьArianespace Flight VV12 - Mission Presentation

arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 17 авг. 2018 г.

For Arianespace's fifth launch of the year, and the first in 2018 with Vega, the company will orbit the Aeolus satellite – the world's first space mission to acquire profiles of the Earth's wind on a global scale, on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA).
This will be the 12th mission of the Vega launcher, which once again is to demonstrate its versatility and perfect adaptation to European missions dedicated to Earth observation.

ЦитироватьAEOLUS SEPARATION

Watch in: (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225258.gif)

DOWNLOAD MP4 (2.41 MB) (https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/public/videos/2018/08/055/1808_055_AR_EN.mp4)
SOURCE MP4 (72.36 MB) (https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/public/videos/2018/08/055/orig-1808_055_AR_EN.mp4)

DETAILS (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225257.gif) (http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2018/08/Aeolus_separation#)

[/li]
• Title Aeolus separation
• Released: 17/08/2018
• Length 00:00:20
• Language English
• Footage Type Animation
• Copyright ESA
  
  
• Description
  ESA's Aeolus wind satellite is lofted into orbit on a Vega rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. The Vega rocket is 30 m high, topped by the Attitude Vernier Upper Module (AVUM) fourth stage, which releases the satellite into orbit. Aeolus satellite uses powerful laser technology that probes the lowermost 30 km of our atmosphere to yield vertical profiles of the wind as well as information on aerosols and clouds. This will not only improve our understanding of how the atmosphere works and contribute to climate change research, but will also help to predict extreme events such as hurricanes and El Niño. While Aeolus is set to advance science, it will also bring considerable benefits to society by improving weather forecasts.
  

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225259.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225700.png) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2018/08/Aeolus_separation)
Aeolus separation

AEOLUS TEAMS READY FOR SPACE

17 August 2018
The teams responsible for flying the Aeolus satellite completed a pre-launch 'dress rehearsal' at ESA's ESOC operations centre in Darmstadt today, the last major step in getting ready for next Tuesday's liftoff.

Experts in mission operations, flight dynamics, ground stations and software systems worked together with counterparts in the Jupiter Control Room on the far side of the Atlantic at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, to practise the pre-launch and liftoff sequence.

This full-scale dress rehearsal for launch came one day after the final simulation covering early operations in space — leaving ESA ready to fly Europe's wind satellite.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225358.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2016/07/Profiling_the_world_s_winds)
Profiling the world's winds

Aeolus is set to launch on a Vega rocket at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST) on Tuesday, 21 August 2018, carrying one of the most sensitive instruments ever put into orbit: a Doppler wind lidar known as Aladin.

Aladin will make Aeolus the first satellite to directly measure wind speeds on Earth from space, providing crucial data that is expected to greatly improve weather forecasting around the globe.

During today's dress rehearsal, controllers were connected to the satellite itself — currently nestled on top of its Vega rocket in Kourou — via an umbilical cable. This connection will be severed just a few minutes before liftoff (watch live on 21 August (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Aeolus/Watch_Aeolus_launch_live) starting 22:45 CEST).

Спойлер

Final simulation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225589.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/08/Final_Aeolus_simulation_in_ESOC_Main_Control_Room)
Final Aeolus simulation in ESOC Main Control Room

Yesterday's simulation capped off months of intensive training. It began at 8:30 CEST and saw teams in Darmstadt mimicking the first eight hours after liftoff — during which they will assume control of the satellite following its separation from the Vega rocket.

"Getting a spacecraft safely into orbit is a difficult process, and a tense but exciting time for mission teams on the ground," explains Aeolus flight director Pier-Paolo Emanuelli.

"Simulations provide an invaluable tool for the many engineers, operators and controllers working with the satellite, giving them the chance to rehearse all possible scenarios before the big day."

This final simulation was unlike the many that came before, as it was a run-through of 'normal' operations for the vital first hours in orbit.

"Whereas previous weeks took the teams through contingency plans for potential scenarios in which something goes wrong, this final simulation was to refresh in the teams' minds on what is to be done when everything is just right," says Spacecraft Operations Manager Juan Piñeiro.

Ground stations worldwide

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225577.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/08/Antenna_down_under)
Antenna down under ready to hear Aeolus' first words

The Vega rocket launcher will inject Aeolus into orbit at an altitude of 320 km.

"For one hour and ten minutes after liftoff, there is no possibility for us to command the satellite — it is purely in the 'hands' of the launcher itself," Juan adds.

Once the satellite separates from the rocket and begins free flight, the solar arrays have extended and Aeolus has turned toward Earth, a global network of ground stations will begin receiving signals from the satellite, marking the first data link between Aeolus and mission control.

The first signal from Aeolus is expected around 00:16 CEST (22:16 GMT) via ESA's 4.5 m-diameter dish at New Norcia, Australia.

Subsequently, stations located at Troll, Antarctica, Inuvik, Canada, Svalbard, Norway and Kiruna, Sweden will receive signals from the satellite and transmit commands from engineers at ESOC.

A critical period

After establishing contact, teams will begin three days of intense activity, working around the clock to chaperone the satellite through the 'LEOP' period — the 'launch and early orbit phase' — one of the most critical periods in the life of any satellite.

Working non-stop to verify the satellite's health, they will switch on and configure flight control systems and ensure that all critical steps – such as the deployment of solar arrays – take place as scheduled, and that all flight control systems and communications are functioning as planned.

"This period is risky," explains Rolf Densing, Director of Operations. "The satellite is not yet fully 'switched on' yet needs to be protected from the potentially dangerous scenarios that can arise in any complex space operation.

"But with ESOC's expertise on hand, this risk is reduced. Experts from flight dynamics, operations engineers and specialists in control systems and ground stations will be working together in unison to ensure this unique and important satellite is successfully placed into orbit."

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=vega) | August 20, 2018

24-hour weather delay for Vega's launch of the Aeolus satellite from French Guiana

The liftoff of Arianespace's Flight VV12 with Europe's Aeolus satellite has been delayed by 24 hours due to winds at altitude over the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Wind conditions in the atmosphere along the launcher's trajectory are among the flight safety elements taken into account for every Arianespace mission. With this one-day postponement, the liftoff of Flight VV12 is now set for August 22 at exactly 6:20:08 p.m., local time in French Guiana – pending an improvement of the wind conditions at altitude.

Спойлер

The mission with Aeolus will be performed with a Vega launcher – provided by prime contractor Avio of Italy – marking the 12th flight of Arianespace's light-lift vehicle since entering service at the Spaceport in February 2012.

Both the Vega launcher and its Aeolus payload for Flight VV12 are in stabilized configurations and under fully secure conditions at the Spaceport's Vega Launch Complex.

Aeolus is a European Space Agency-organized mission to provide much-needed data in improving the quality of weather forecasts and contributing to long-term climate research. Built by Airbus Defence and Space, the satellite carries a laser Doppler wind LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system called Aladin that will probe the lowermost 30 km. of the atmosphere in measuring winds around the Earth.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/press-releases/?taxonomy%5Bpress-release-category%5D=vega) | August 20, 2018

Flight VV12: Vega – Aeolus: 24-hour postponement

The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) took place on Monday, August 20, 2018 in Kourou, French Guiana for Arianespace Flight VV12, and both the Vega launcher and the Aeolus satellite were declared ready for launch.

However, because of unfavorable weather conditions over the Guiana Space Center at Kourou, the final countdown operations for Flight VV12 – originally planned for Wednesday August 21, 2018 – have been postponed.

The new planned launch date and time for the European Space Agency's Aeolus satellite is now August 22, 2018 at precisely:

[/li]
• 05:20:09 p.m., Washington D.C. time
• 06:20:09 p.m., local time in French Guiana
• 21:20:09, Universal Time (UTC)
• 11:20:09 p.m., Paris time.
  

Both the Vega launcher and the Aeolus satellite are in stabilized configuration and under fully secure conditions.

ЦитироватьСтарт ракеты-носителя Vega с космодрома Куру отложили из-за погоды

23:34 20.08.2018 (обновлено: 23:36 20.08.2018)

ПАРИЖ, 20 авг – РИА Новости. Старт ракеты-носителя Vega со спутником Aeolus на борту, запланированный в ночь на среду с космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане, отложен из-за неблагоприятных погодных условий, говорится в сообщении компании-оператора космодрома Arianespace.

"Проверка перед запуском для полёта VV12 прошла в понедельник, 20 августа... И ракета-носитель Vega, и спутник Aeolus были признаны готовыми к старту. Тем не менее, из-за неблагоприятных погодных условий отсчёт времени готовности непосредственно перед пуском VV12, изначально планировавшийся на (ночь на) среду, был отложен", — написано в коммюнике.

Новое время старта: 18.20 местного времени 22 августа (00.20 четверга мск).

"И ракета-носитель Vega, и спутник Aeolus стабилизированы и находятся в полностью безопасных условиях", — отмечается в документе.

Aeolus – первый спутник, разработанный для Европейского космического агентства (ЕSA) для дистанционного зондирования ветра. Предполагается, что запуск спутника позволит получить данные, необходимые для улучшения качества прогнозов погоды, а также будет способствовать долгосрочным исследованиям климата.
Спутник был построен компанией Airbus Defense and Space.
...

ЦитироватьNAVAREA IV 656/2018 (24,25)

WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FRENCH GUIANA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING:
   A. 2110Z TO 2151Z DAILY 21 AUG THRU 20 SEP
   IN AREA BETWEEN
   09-01.00N 08-07.00N AND 052-50.00W 052-45.00W.
   B. 2020Z TO 2151Z DAILY 21 AUG THRU 20 SEP
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   19-20.00N 053-39.00W, 19-20.00N 053-31.00W,
   17-39.00N 053-25.00W, 17-38.00N 053-33.00W.
   C. 2110Z TO 2151Z DAILY 21 AUG THRU 20 SEP
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   05-23.46N 052-53.80W, 05-48.00N 052-54.00W,
   05-50.55N 052-26.40W, 05-12.60N 052-40.98W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 202251Z SEP 18.

( 160323Z AUG 2018 )


HYDROARC 176/2018 (15,16,41) 

ARCTIC OCEAN.
DNC 27.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2029Z TO 2246Z DAILY 21 AUG THRU 20 SEP
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   81-53N 168-30E, 83-50N 128-22W,
   83-21N 129-46W, 81-31N 170-48E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 202346Z SEP 18.

( 090848Z AUG 2018 )

ЦитироватьVega launch delayed 24 hours
August 20, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144747.jpg)
The European Space Agency's Aeolus satellite, covered in a payload shroud, was lifted atop its Vega launcher in French Guiana earlier this month. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – P. Baudon

The liftoff of a European satellite to measure global wind fields has been delayed 24 hours to Wednesday in hopes of a better weather forecast at the Vega rocket's launch base in French Guiana, officials announced Monday.

The European Space Agency's Aeolus satellite is ready for launch aboard a solid-fueled Vega rocket, the smallest booster in Arianespace's fleet, to begin a three-year science mission to monitor wind speeds in Earth's atmosphere.

Officials from Arianespace, ESA and CNES — the French space agency — convened Monday for a launch readiness review. Managers confirmed the readiness of the four-stage Vega launcher and the Aeolus spacecraft, but unfavorable high-altitude winds predicted during at Tuesday's launch time prompted a 24-hour delay.

Liftoff of the Aeolus mission is now scheduled for Wednesday at an instantaneous launch opportunity set for 2120:09 GMT (5:20:09 p.m. EDT; 6:20:09 p.m. French Guiana time), assuming the upper level wind conditions improve.

Спойлер

"Wind conditions in the atmosphere along the launcher's trajectory are among the flight safety elements taken into account for every Arianespace mission," Arianespace said in a statement Monday.

Officials familiar with Vega launch operations said the upper level winds violated safety limits established to ensure debris from an in-flight mishap will fall away from populated areas.

The irony of the Aeolus mission's launch delay due to winds was highlighted on an official ESA Twitter account.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 13 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1031650035044364288)

Has anyone else noticed the irony in a 24-hr launch delay in ESA's #WindMission (https://twitter.com/hashtag/WindMission?src=hash) due to wind? Obviously we need more precise data on... wind! #aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/aeolus?src=hash)

After liftoff, the Vega rocket will fly to the north from the spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, to release Aeolus in a 199-mile-high (300-kilometer) polar orbit. Built by Airbus Defense and Space, the satellite will fly in an unusually low orbit for a science mission, placing the observatory closer to the winds it will measure in Earth's atmosphere.

Aeolus weighs approximately 3,000 pounds — exactly 1,367 kilograms, according to ESA's project manager for the mission — fully fueled for its liftoff from the Guiana Space Center on the northeastern coast of South America.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144745.jpg)
The Aeolus satellite is encapsulated inside the Vega rocket's Swiss-made nose cone in preparation for launch. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – J. Durrenberger

Aeolus carries a high-power ultraviolet Earth-pointing laser to allow the mission to measure the movement of air molecules in the atmosphere. Scientists designed the mission to detect wind speeds at various levels of the atmosphere, ranging from the surface to an altitude of nearly 100,000 feet (30 kilometers).

Named for a figure in Greek mythology who was appointed by the gods as "keeper of the winds," the Aeolus mission cost around 480 million euros — nearly $550 million at today's exchange rates — to design, develop and prepare for launch. The development of Aeolus also stretched over 16 years, a decade longer than originally planned.

"It's been an exciting time," said Martin Kaspers, ESA's product assurance manager for Aeolus mission. "We've had lots and lots of issues. We've solved them all, and we are here in Kourou ready with the spacecraft to put it in orbit so it will provide data to the weather forecast community."

No other space mission has been able to measure winds at multiple layers of the atmosphere on a global scale. Previous satellites have been limited to deriving winds measurements by tracking the movement of clouds and aerosols, or by measuring the effect of winds on the ocean surface.

If scientists can prove the reliability of Aeolus data after launch, meteorologists plan to incorporate the information into global weather prediction models. The new wind input could result in more accurate forecasts, officials said.

"We were really on the edge of technology," Kaspers said. "Each time when we resolved a problem, we got further and further, and then suddenly we hit another boundary, either on the optics, or on the electronics, or on a mechanism, and each time we had to come up with new solutions. That's why, in the end, it took so long, but we're here and proud of it."

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьArianespace Flight VV12 – Launch Campaign Presentation

arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 21 авг. 2018 г.

For Arianespace's fifth launch of the year, and the first in 2018 with Vega, the company will orbit the Aeolus satellite – the world's first space mission to acquire profiles of the Earth's wind on a global scale, on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA).
This will be the 12th mission of the Vega launcher, which once again is to demonstrate its versatility and perfect adaptation to European missions dedicated to Earth observation.

ЦитироватьArianespace Flight VV12 - Mission Presentation

arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 21 авг. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьHYDROPAC 2998/2018 (61,74) 

INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   2326Z TO 0043Z COMMENCING DAILY 21 AUG THRU 20 SEP
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   25-15S 090-04E, 14-47S 092-11E,
   14-50S 092-29E, 25-19S 090-25E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 210143Z SEP 18.

( 160350Z AUG 2018 )

ЦитироватьFirst-of-its-kind satellite to measure global winds finally ready for liftoff
August 21, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144866.jpg)
Artist's concept of the Aeolus satellite in orbit. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

The European Space Agency's $550 million Aeolus science mission, the product of a drawn-out 16-year development effort that required engineers to master new technologies, is in the starting blocks on a launch pad in French Guiana awaiting liftoff Wednesday to monitor wind speeds fr om space for the first time on a global scale.

The winds observatory's launch Wednesday, weather permitting, will kick off a three-year mission to gather the first comprehensive worldwide measurements of wind speed — over oceans and land masses — from Earth's surface to an altitude of nearly 100,000 feet (30 kilometers).

Data collected by the Aeolus satellite will be fed into numerical weather prediction models, replacing simulated "boundary conditions" in the computers models with near real-time measurements from space.

"We are serving the meteorological community as the primary user, but also the climate research community," said Anders Elfving, Aeolus project manager at ESA. "For decades, there has been an outcry from these communities for explicit wind measurements, explicit wind profiles in the whole atmosphere, globally and continuously."

Aeolus was not conceived by ESA as an operational weather satellite, but forecasters will be some of the prime beneficiaries of the mission.

Спойлер

We have a unique product which can be — if proven to the right quality — directly injected into the weather models," Elfving said in a phone interview with Spaceflight Now. "Our main client is the ECMWF, the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts ... in the UK, and they will certainly inject our data straight into their model and get a lot of good boundary conditions for winds, which are today completely missing."

Aeolus carries a high-power ultraviolet laser fired at 50 pulses per second toward the ground. Light emitted from the laser — the centerpiece of Aeolus's single science instrument — will bounce off air molecules, aerosol and cloud particles, and Earth's surface.

A tiny fraction of the scattered ultraviolet photons will reflect back toward a 5-foot (1.5-meter) telescope on the Aeolus satellite.

"Aeolus actually has its own sun on-board in the sense that it's sending out laser light into the atmosphere, and this laser light is then scattered back from air molecules and particles in the atmosphere," said Anne Grete Straume, ESA's Aeolus mission scientist.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144813.jpg)
A technician inspects the telescope on the ALADIN instrument aboard the Aeolus satellite. Credit: ESA

The light will return to the Aeolus satellite's Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument — ALADIN — with a slightly different color. By analyzing the change in color caused by the motion of atmospheric air molecules — known as the Doppler effect — scientists can derive wind speeds.

The Doppler effect is the same process that causes an ambulance's siren to sound different when it approaches and drives away.

"The same happens to the light which is sent out by the satellite," Straume said in an ESA video interview. "The movement of the air molecules and the particles in its path will actually stretch or compress the light wave, and you get a different color coming back to the instrument.

"We measure the back reflection of the air and the particles at different ranges from the instrument, and from this you can actually measure the winds at different altitudes through the atmosphere from the surface up to the stratosphere," she said. "About 30 kilometers is the top level that we will be able to measure."

No other space mission has been able to measure winds at multiple layers of the atmosphere on a global scale. Previous satellites have been limited to deriving winds measurements by tracking the movement of clouds and aerosols, or by measuring the effect of winds on the ocean surface.

But Aeolus will be able to measure wind speeds in clear skies, eliminating the limitations of other missions. Meteorologists currently use weather balloons and airplanes for wind data, but the observations are spotty.

Wind measurements from Aeolus "will fill a significant gap in the wind observing system, particularly in the upper troposphere, the lower stratosphere, in the tropics and over the oceans, wh ere in situ wind observations are lacking," scientists Michael Rennie and Lars Isaksen from the ECMWF wrote in a blog post earlier this month.

As the satellite orbits nearly 200 miles (320 kilometers) above the Earth, Aeolus will point its ultraviolet laser beam at an angle of 35 degrees to the side of its ground track, in the direction away from the sun.

Aeolus will fly in a "dawn-dusk" polar orbit, meaning the spacecraft will roughly follow the boundary between day and night as it travels in a north-south direction, circling the planet every 90 minutes or so.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144812.jpg)
The Aeolus satellite will measure winds by pointing its laser instrument at a 35-degree angle off its ground track in the direction away from the sun. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

"We are actually shooting our laser pulse in a slant angle of 35 degrees perpendicular to the orbit, and measuring the line-of-sight return wind speed," Elfving told Spaceflight Now. "For all purposes, the vertical winds are very small with respect to horizontal winds. So what we've promised to give are horizontal line-of-sight winds, which in practice means, more or less, the east-west wind all over the world. That may sound limited, but when meteorologists but that boundary condition of that vector into their overall wind models, they get 75 to 80 percent knowledge of the total wind vector."

ESA decided to go ahead with the Aeolus mission in 2002.

"We were initially promising that we would be flying in 2007, or at least in early 2008," said Elfving, who became Aeolus project manager in 2010. "Yes, we have had a 10-and-a-half or 11-year delay. My director said we are not ashamed at all of that. We are very proud to have sustained through all the troubles because there is actually no other comparable mission implemented in the world."

Engineers determined Aeolus needed an ultraviolet laser to give Aeolus the capability to monitor global winds. A laser operating in visible wavelengths, such as the laser aboard the U.S.-French CALIPSO satellite, would only be tuned to track cloud motion.

Ultraviolet lasers flown in space on previous tech demo and Earth science missions have not succeeded. Most recently, an ultraviolet laser on NASA's Cloud-Aerosol Transport System instrument on the International Space Station failed soon after it was activated in 2015.

Some of the major challenges that faced the Aeolus team included selecting materials that can cope with the high-temperature output of the laser.

"We pulse our optics 50 times every second, and this goes on year after year, and this intense pulse creates 1700 degrees on the optical surface of the optics, and will fatigue the optics in the long run," Elfving said. "So we have had tremendous development of the coatings of the optics to withstand this high laser pulse. We are actually our own sun."

Managers ordered one of the most significant redesigns of the ALADIN instrument aboard Aeolus to ensure the sensor's optical surfaces remain free of contamination.

"If there are some remaining hydrocarbons on the surface of the optics, and the UV light hits it, it will carbonize, so blacken, the surface and reduce dramatically the reflection or transmissibility of the optics," Elfving said. "That has been a pain for many missions trying to do this."

Despite strict clean room controls on the ground, all space missions launch with some amount of contamination, which can outgas in orbit once heated by the sun. The high-energy laser aboard Aeolus could also lead to outgassing as it warms up materials inside the ALADIN instrument.

Engineers determined they could flush the ALADIN instrument with tiny injections of pure oxygen throughout the Aeolus mission. Two high-pressure tanks carrying a combined load of around 31 pounds (14 kilograms) of liquid oxygen will gradually supply the instrument once in space.

"We have a regulation system which takes the high pressure oxygen down to an extremely low pressure in orbit — 40 to 60 pascal — which is an incredibly light pressure, very few molecules," Elfving said.

The amount of oxygen gas inside the instrument in space will be equivalent to the oxygen produced by a small plant indoors, according to ESA.

"But it is enough to cause combustion of this organic material which always remains on the optics," Elfving said. "It helps to catalyze and burn away that, instead of carbonizing it and blackening the optics.

"Those two, I would say, have been the main challenges — laser-induced contamination and laser-induced damage," he added. "For the rest, we are talking about stabilities in alignment of microns or nanometers, and that's obviously a tough challenge, especially when we are pumping a lot of energy into the laser, so about 300 watts.

"That put us between a rock and a hard place," Elfving said. "So it has taken us about 10 years to get from a prototype laser to a flight-worthy laser with a lifetime that meets our requirements. In the beginning, due to this laser-induced contamination, we lost about 50 percent of the energy within hours, and we now we have run a laser with absolutely no degradation for six months and beyond. So we're very confident that have achieved the state of the art."

Concerns about the sensitivity of the Aeolus satellite's laser instrument drove managers to transport the spacecraft from Europe to the mission's launch base in South America by ship instead of airplane. Engineers worried the pressure increase during an airplane's descent would damage the instrument package on Aeolus.

There are no such concerns about a pressure decrease like the conditions the spacecraft will encounter as it climbs into space.

Once the spacecraft arrived in French Guiana, teams fueled Aeolus and put the spacecraft through an extra step of cleaning. Technicians used a powerful ultraviolet torch to search for particles of dust residing on the satellite, then used a soft brush and vacuum cleaner to remove any contamination they found.

"This is a bit of a tedious task, but one that is necessary," ESA said in a statement.

The Aeolus satellite was built by Airbus Defense and Space's spacecraft manufacturing plant in Stevenage, England, and is based on the satellite design used by ESA's Rosetta and Mars Express interplanetary probes. With its maneuvering fuel loaded, Aeolus weighs around 3,013 pounds (1,367 kilograms) at launch, according to Elfving.

Airbus Defense and Space's division in Toulouse, France, developed the ALADIN instrument, and the laser transmitters were supplied by the Italian company Leonardo in Florence and Pomezia, Italy.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144746.jpg)
The Aeolus satellite, shrouded inside a payload fairing, was lifted atop its Vega launcher in French Guiana earlier the month. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – G. Barbaste

A Vega booster will propel the Aeolus satellite into orbit following liftoff from the European-run Guiana Space Center on the northern coast of South America. Liftoff is timed for 2120:09 GMT (5:20:09 p.m. EDT; 6:20:09 p.m. French Guiana time) Wednesday.

Powered by three Italian-built solid-fueled motors and a liquid-fueled upper stage, the Vega rocket will soar north from French Guiana to deploy Aeolus in a near-circular polar orbit around 55 minutes after liftoff.

The launch was delayed an extra day from Tuesday to Wednesday to allow for more favorable high-altitude winds over the Guiana Space Center.

Once in orbit, Aeolus will automatically extend its power-generating solar panels and begin three days of activations to prepare it for normal operations.

"Then we start switching on the laser and the instrument," Elfving said. "That will take around two weeks if it goes well, but it could take longer because there's a lot of tuning and observing of this high-energy laser. We don't want to damage anything if we have any wrong settings. In October, we expect to start collecting and calibrating data."

Scientists will meticulously compare Aeolus's data with wind measurements collected by airplanes. The calibration campaign will extend into next year, ensuring accuracy of the satellite's measurements.

"That will go on until the second quarter of 2019, and by that moment, we hope to have declared the quality such that meteorologists ... can start ingesting our data operationally," Elfving said.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьLive coverage: Vega rocket counting down to launch from French Guiana
August 22, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

08/22/2018 18:28 Stephen Clark

The Vega launch countdown commenced this morning at the Guiana Space Center, and clocks are ticking toward liftoff at 2120:09 GMT (5:20:09 p.m. EDT; 6:20:09 p.m. French Guiana time).

Спойлер

Within the next couple of hours, controllers at the spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, will oversee the activation of the Vega rocket's avionics and computer systems, the switch-on of its telemetry transmitters, and the start-up of the launcher's guidance system.

The launch team will receive a weather briefing before rollback of the Vega launch facility's mobile gantry. The launch pad's mobile service tower will be retracted to launch position at 1805 GMT (2:05 p.m. EDT), rolling on rails to a point 260 feet (80 meters) from the Vega rocket.

The launcher's navigation system will be tested again at 1855 GMT (2:55 p.m. EDT), and Vega's telemetry transmitters and transponders are activated again after the rollback of the launch pad gantry around 2005 GMT (4:05 p.m. EDT).

Engineers will verify the readiness of Vega's systems at 2030 GMT (4:30 p.m. EDT), and a final pre-launch weather briefing is scheduled for 2110 GMT (5:10 p.m. EDT).

The synchronized launch sequence takes over the countdown about four minutes prior to liftoff. The computer-controlled final sequence checks thousands of parameters in the final steps of the countdown.

After liftoff, Vega will clear the pad's four lightning towers and pitch north from the Guiana Space Center, heading over the Atlantic Ocean and surpassing the speed of sound in about 30 seconds.

The Vega's solid-fueled P80FW first stage, producing a maximum of 683,000 pounds of thrust, burns out 114 seconds after liftoff, giving way to the launcher's Zefiro 23 second stage at an altitude of about 33 miles (53 kilometers).

After a 103-second burn, the second stage consumes its propellant 3 minutes, 37 seconds after launch and separates. The Vega's third stage, the Zefiro 9A motor, ignites 3 minutes, 51 seconds into the mission.

A few seconds later, Vega's Swiss-built 8.5-foot-diameter (2.6-meter) payload fairing will jettison.

Vega's third stage fires for more than two minutes, turning off and separating 6 minutes, 30 seconds after liftoff.

The fourth stage, known as AVUM, ignites its liquid-fueled Ukrainian RD-843 engine 8 minutes, 3 seconds into the mission, burning for around eight-and-a-half minutes to reach a transfer orbit above Earth.

After coasting more than 36 minutes, the AVUM fourth stage will fire again at Plus+53 minutes, 6 seconds for 23 seconds to reach a circular orbit for deployment of the Aeolus spacecraft.

Separation of the Aeolus satellite is scheduled for 54 minutes, 57 seconds after liftoff.

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1032274098074931200)

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Arianespace's Vega rocket set for ESA Aeolus launch -

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/08/arianespaces-vega-rocket-esa-aeolus-launch/ ... (https://t.co/nWPetygqDx)

- By William Graham

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168674.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168675.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168676.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168677.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать

Posted on August 22, 2018 by http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/

READY TO GO

Following 24-hour delay for the launch of Aeolus because of winds, everything looks good for the launch today at 23:20 CEST.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101194.jpg)
Some of the team in Kourou, (ESA)

With Aeolus 'switched on', teams at ESA's European Spacecraft Operations Centre in Germany and teams at the launch site in Kourou are in position for liftoff.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101197.jpg)
Getting ready in ESOC. (ESA)

Цитировать08/22/2018 18:41 Stephen Clark

High-altitude winds over the Guiana Space Center are reported acceptable so far in the countdown, but further wind measurements are planned throughout the day.

The next weather briefing is expected around four hours prior to liftoff, in advance of the rollback of the Vega launch pad's mobile gantry.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225259.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225338.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2015/06/Measuring_cyclones)

FACTS AND FIGURES

Launch: 2018

Launcher: Vega

Satellite: cubic platform and cylindrical instrument structure, weighing 1360 kg (including 266 kg fuel)

Instrument: direct detection Doppler wind lidar, Aladin, operated at 355 nm; separate detection of molecular and particle backscatter (high-spectral resolution)

Mass: 1360 kg (including fuel)

Dimensions: 4.60 × 1.9 × 2.0 m (launch configuration)

Power: 2.4 kW deployable solar array (2×3 panels) with GaAs cells; 84 Ah Li-ion battery

Orbit: altitude of 320 km and inclination of 97°; Sun-synchronous, 7-day repeat cycle

Mission control: ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany

Communication: ground stations in Kiruna, Sweden (telemetry); Svalbard, Norway and Troll, Antarctica (science data)

Data processing: Tromsø, Norway, managed by ESA's Centre for Earth Observation (ESRIN) in Frascati, Italy

Mission life: 3 years

Wind profile retrieval: European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) in Reading, UK

Project and commissioning: managed at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Operations: managed at ESA's Centre for Earth Observation (ESRIN) in Frascati, Italy

Prime contractor: Airbus Defence and Space

Цитировать08/22/2018 21:05 Stephen Clark

All systems are reported to be "go" for launch tonight in an instantaneous launch opportunity at 2120:09 GMT (5:20:09 p.m. EDT; 6:20:09 p.m. French Guiana time).

So far in the countdown, Vega's systems have been powered on and launch controllers have checked communications, tracking and command links between the rocket and ground facilities at the Guiana Space Center.

The launch pad's 16-story mobile gantry is now retracting to its launch position about 260 feet (80 meters) fr om the rocket.

Спойлер

The 270-square-mile space center, run by the French space agency, CNES, and the European Space Agency, is located on the jungle coastline of French Guiana, situated on the northeast corner of South America.

The Vega launch pad, known by its French acronym ZLV, is about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) southwest of the Ariane 5 launch complex. It was built on the former site of ELA-1, the home of Ariane 1, Ariane 2 and Ariane 3 launchers from 1979 until 1989.

Construction of the Vega launch pad began in 2004, including the building of a new 16-story mobile gantry weighing some 1,000 metric tons. A fixed umbilical mast standing 105 feet tall provides air conditioning to the Vega's payload.

Workers also added four lightning towers at the pad to protect the Vega rocket from thunderstorms.

Unlike the Ariane 5 rocket, the Vega's stages are stacked on the pad inside the mobile gantry, which provides protection of the launcher from weather at the spaceport.

Vega's countdown is managed from Guiana Space Center's prime control center less than a mile from the launch pad, the same building wh ere Ariane 5's countdown is controlled.

[свернуть]

Цитироватьна англ. яз.

youtube.com/watch?v=Z4XLImXKgSo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4XLImXKgSo)

на фр. яз.

youtube.com/watch?v=A7gfsU5ss2s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7gfsU5ss2s)

Цитировать08/22/2018 22:08 Stephen Clark

As the Vega launch team in French Guiana monitors the progress of the countdown, engineers across the Atlantic Ocean at the European Space Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany, have confirmed the readiness of a network of ground stations ready to track the Aeolus satellite after it arrives in orbit.

A ground station in New Norcia, Western Australia, is expected to be the first to hear a signal from the Aeolus satellite after its deployment from the Vega upper stage around an hour after liftoff. A ground receiver at the Troll station in Antarctica will collect information from Aeolus a few minutes later, and is expected to be the first tracking site to decode data on the spacecraft's post-launch health.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032345945005060097)

Just over 2 hours left in the #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) countdown tonight...

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168697.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186329.jpg)Deimos Imaging‏ @deimosimaging (https://twitter.com/deimosimaging) 53 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/deimosimaging/status/1032334170792574977)

#DEIMOS2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/DEIMOS2?src=hash) caught the #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) launch pad beneath the clouds in #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash) today, Aug. 22, just a few hours ahead of the launch of #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) from there! Best of luck to @esa (https://twitter.com/esa) #EarthGroupies (https://twitter.com/hashtag/EarthGroupies?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125295.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168708.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032347720319684609)

#Jupiter (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jupiter?src=hash) control room (#Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) launch control) in #Korou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Korou?src=hash) is also a hive of activity - voice comms have just been confirmed between #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) A-Team #FlightDirector (https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlightDirector?src=hash) P P Emanuelli and his counterpart in #Korou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Korou?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168703.jpg)

ЦитироватьVega launch timeline with Aeolus
August 22, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

The European Space Agency's Aeolus winds observatory is set for liftoff aboard a Vega rocket to kick off a three-year mission to measure global wind profiles from an orbit nearly 200 miles (320 kilometers) above Earth.

The ascent will take nearly an hour following launch from French Guiana at 2120:09 GMT (5:20:09 p.m. EDT; 6:20:09 p.m. French Guiana time) on Aug. 22.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144895.jpg)
Credit: Arianespace

Спойлер

T+00:00:00 – Liftoff

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143752.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143752.jpg)
The Vega rocket's first stage P80 solid rocket motor ignites and powers the 98-foot-tall booster off the launch pad 0.3 seconds later. The P80 first stage motor generates a maximum of 683,000 pounds of thrust.

T+00:00:31 – Mach 1

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143753.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143753.jpg)
The Vega rocket surpasses the speed of sound as it soars on a northerly trajectory from French Guiana. The rocket will reach Max-Q, the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure, at T+plus 53 seconds.

T+00:01:54 – First stage separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143754.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143754.png)
Having consumed its 194,000 pounds (88 metric tons) of solid propellant, the 9.8-foot-diameter (3-meter) P80 first stage motor is jettisoned at an altitude of about 33 miles (53 kilometers). The second stage Zefiro 23 motor will ignite a second later to begin its 103-second firing.

T+00:03:37 – Second stage separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143756.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143756.png)
The Zefiro 23 motor burns out and jettisons.

T+00:03:51 – Third stage ignition

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143778.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143778.png)
Moving at a velocity of nearly 9,000 mph, or about 3.9 kilometers per second, the Vega rocket's Zefiro 9 motor ignites for the third stage burn.

T+00:03:56 – Fairing separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144811.jpg)
The Vega's 8.5-foot-diameter (2.6-meter) payload fairing is released as the rocket ascends into space.

T+00:06:30 – Third stage separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144896.png)
The Zefiro 9 third stage shuts down and separates, having accelerated the rocket to nearly orbital velocity.

T+00:08:03 – First AVUM ignition

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144898.png)
The Vega rocket's Attitude and Vernier Module, or fourth stage, ignites for the first time. The AVUM burns hydrazine fuel with an RD-843 engine provided by Yuzhnoye of Ukraine.

T+00:16:37 – AVUM first cutoff

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144901.png)
The Vega's AVUM fourth stage is turned off after an 8-minute, 34-second burn, beginning a nearly 37-minute coast until the engine is ignited again.

T+00:53:06 – Second AVUM ignition

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144900.png)
The AVUM fires a second time for a 23-second burn to put the Aeolus satellite into its targeted orbit.

T+00:53:29 – AVUM second cutoff

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144899.png)The AVUM engine shuts down after reaching a circular orbit with an altitude of 199 miles (320 kilometers), and an inclination of 96.7 degrees.

T+00:54:57 – Aeolus separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144897.png)
The European Space Agency's Aeolus winds observatory separates from the Vega upper stage.

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032350436509011968)

Voice and data connections with #NewNorcia (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewNorcia?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125421.png) tracking station are now being checked. Our new NNO-2 dish will be the first to see the #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) signal tonight

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032351610599604225)

"All ground stations are green!" - #GroundOperationsManager (https://twitter.com/hashtag/GroundOperationsManager?src=hash) at #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) has just called in (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125424.png) on the #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) tracking stations (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125421.png) spread across the planet (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125296.png), we hear you all loud and clear (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125614.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125370.png)!

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 10 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032355139850592256)

Roll call complete - all positions at #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) report GO(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125614.png) for #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) launch(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png) at this time — 1 hour 30 mins left in the count (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125591.png)

Цитировать08/22/2018 23:06 Clark Stephen Clark

All members of the Aeolus control team in Germany who will take over management of the satellite after its separation from the Vega launcher have voice their "go" for launch at this time.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032360106653044736)

#FlightDirector (https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlightDirector?src=hash) reports to #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash) that there are no launch hold criteria violations - all systems at #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) are GO(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125614.png) for #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) launch! (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125474.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)

Цитировать08/22/2018 23:21 Stephen Clark

T-minus 60 minutes and counting. There continue to be no problems reported in the countdown for launch of Vega this evening. Liftoff is set for 21:20:09 GMT (5:20:09 p.m. EDT; 6:20:09 p.m. local time) from French Guiana.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67718.jpg)ESA‏Подлинная учетная запись @esa (https://twitter.com/esa) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esa/status/1032364424982540288)

#Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) will be operated by @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) via the ground station in Kiruna, Sweden. Scientific data will be downlinked to Svalbard, Norway, and sent to Tromsø for processing. Further processing will be done by @ECMWF (https://twitter.com/ECMWF) in the UK, and @ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) in Italy. https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Aeolus/Data_flow ... (https://t.co/AAL2Ffghwy)

https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DlOvy-XXsAYp3Dj.mp4 (https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DlOvy-XXsAYp3Dj.mp4)

Цитировать08/22/2018 23:35 Stephen Clark

Minus-45 minutes. Some statistics on today's flight:

[/li]
• 12th Vega launch
• 1st Vega launch of 2018
• 5th launch from Guiana Space Center in 2018
• 37th launch from the ELA-1/SLV launch pad
• 50th Arianespace mission for the European Space Agency
• 120th Airbus Defense and Space-built satellite launched by Arianespace
• 299th Arianespace mission overall
  

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 46 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032366873336209409)

The board is green! All #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) positions confirm final GO for #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) launch! (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032367071101779970)

The @ESA (https://twitter.com/esa) team in #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash) have authorised the switch of #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) to launch mode (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)

1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032367208222023682)

First activity is to open #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) latch valves — these unseal the satellite's propulsion system (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125613.png)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 58 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032368010340663297)

#Aelous (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aelous?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) latch valves are confirmed open and the satellite's thrusters are now primed for flight (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125444.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)

Цитировать08/22/2018 23:46 Stephen Clark

Minus-34 minutes. The launch team continues monitoring upper level winds with a series of weather balloons deployed over the spaceport in French Guiana.

Цитировать08/22/2018 23:50 Stephen Clark

Minus-30 minutes. The Vega rocket has just one second to launch today or else liftoff will be delayed to another day. The time is fixed for 2120:09 GMT (5:20:09 p.m. EDT; 6:20:09 p.m. French Guiana time).

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032373249483501568)

#MissionDirector (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissionDirector?src=hash) in #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash) confirms weather(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125312.png) is GREEN (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125614.png) on all criteria for tonight's launch, including @upperlevelwinds (https://twitter.com/upperlevelwinds) for #Aelous (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aelous?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) #launch (https://twitter.com/hashtag/launch?src=hash)! (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)!!

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 38 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032374793117388801)

#MissionDirector (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissionDirector?src=hash) in #Kourou (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kourou?src=hash) confirms final weather(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125312.png) status and #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) vehicle status is GO(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125614.png) for #Aelous (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aelous?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) #launch (https://twitter.com/hashtag/launch?src=hash)! (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)

ЦитироватьVega launches Aeolus

SciNews (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU6ZwoTQtKWfz1urL7XcbA)

Опубликовано: 22 авг. 2018 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 24 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032377070402195457)

LIFTOFF (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125444.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125444.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125444.png)!! #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) flight(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png) #VV12 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV12?src=hash) soars into the sky carrying #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) on its flight to orbit — pioneering a new way to monitor wind(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125338.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) from space

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168686.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 8 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032381340480495617)

High over Canada, the #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) AVUM has shut down on schedule after boosting #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) on a path towards apogee. Flight #VV12 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV12?src=hash) will now coast for ~30 minutes, over the Arctic and down towards Australia before igniting(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125444.png) the upper stage for a 2nd time

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168720.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 8 мин.8 минут назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032381728579416064)

В ответ @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) @Arianespace (https://twitter.com/Arianespace)

Hello Jonathan! Z9 splashes down in a pre-defined splash zone just north of the Atlantic...

7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032382089549639680)

В ответ @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) @Arianespace (https://twitter.com/Arianespace)

... AVUM performs a deorbit burn over the US, and then splashes down in a safe drop zone in the Indian ocean...

ЦитироватьJonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 13 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1032380762517983233)

#VV12 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV12?src=hash) Some things I haven't been able to find out: where does Z9 splash down? Where is AVUM deorbited? What are AVUM's initial orbit parameters after first burn? @Arianespace (https://twitter.com/Arianespace) @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/35114.png)Cees Bassa‏ @cgbassa (https://twitter.com/cgbassa)

В ответ @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) @Arianespace (https://twitter.com/Arianespace) @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations)

Have a look at the broadcast warnings.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168714.png)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168715.png)

14:40 (https://twitter.com/cgbassa/status/1032381941612392448) - 22 авг. 2018 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/35114.png)Cees Bassa‏ @cgbassa (https://twitter.com/cgbassa) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/cgbassa/status/1032383496017174528)

В ответ @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations)

Yep, pretty great how things work some times. I had only looked at it 15 mins before launch to get a rough orbit estimate. Here's the broadcast warning for the AVUM deorbit. @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations); can you confirm Aeolus will transmit at 2205MHz?

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168724.png)

ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=vega) | August 22, 2018

Liftoff of the Vega mission with Aeolus

Arianespace's latest Vega mission is now underway following today's liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

This flight will last just under 55 minutes from liftoff to separation of the Aeolus payload, which will be placed into a Sun-synchronous orbit.

Цитировать08/23/2018 00:52 Stephen Clark

Here's a view of the Vega rocket's launch from French Guiana with the Aeolus satellite on-board.

(https://24liveblog.tradingfront.cn/event/2064563169176707267/20180822215258_366219.jpg) (https://photo.24liveblog.com/2064563169176707267/20180822215258_366219.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67718.jpg)ESA‏Подлинная учетная запись @esa (https://twitter.com/esa) 14 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esa/status/1032384163544948746)

First #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) launch photos are in from our photographer! ...

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168721.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168722.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168723.jpg)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg)Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/1032391062260613120)

Confirmed: #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) has been deployed by its #Vega (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vega?src=hash) launcher. #VV12 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VV12?src=hash) @ESA (https://twitter.com/esa) @ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) @AirbusSpace (https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032390916953145344)

ACQUISITION OF SIGNAL!! (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125425.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125614.png) A spike appears in the spectrum from #NewNorcia (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewNorcia?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125421.png) showing #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) is calling in loud and clear. As planned, controllers can see the signal but can't yet read data from it — for that we wait for @KSAT_Kongsberg (https://twitter.com/KSAT_Kongsberg) to pick us up over #Troll (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Troll?src=hash) in Antarctica

ЦитироватьUpdated: 08/23/2018 01:17 Aeolus separation Stephen Clark

Aeolus separation! The 3,013 (1,367-kilogram) satellite is kicking off a three-year mission to measure global wind fields from orbit.

(https://24liveblog.tradingfront.cn/event/2064563169176707267/20180822221731_997311.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032392156625874944)

Loss of #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) signal at #NewNorcia (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewNorcia?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125421.png) right on time. The newest satellite in orbit flies over the Australian horizon, headed for Antarctica

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 8 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1032391039988916225)

S/C Sep for the Aeolus climate science satellite following its launch on Arianespace's Vega.

ARTICLE:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/08/arianespaces-vega-rocket-esa-aeolus-launch/ ... (https://t.co/nWPetyy1v5)

- by William Graham

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168733.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168734.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168735.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032394662865063936)

FIRST DATA!! #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) coming in loud(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125422.png) and clear at #Troll (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Troll?src=hash) station(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125421.png) and controllers at #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125456.png) are seeing their first data from the satellite

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032395087773294593)

FIRST COMMAND!! #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125456.png) sends the first command to #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) — just a simple #ping (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ping?src=hash) to say 'hello'!(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125378.png)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 3 мин.назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032395913300529152)

Loss of #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) signal at #Troll (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Troll?src=hash) as the spacecraft begins its first full orbit, heading north over the Americas

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1032395241960009729)

AOS! After a pretty long delay "Phew that was a relief!"

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168743.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 6 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032398241554255873)

As #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) travels North, out of ground contact as planned, flight controllers at #ESOC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESOC?src=hash) are poring over the data downloaded at #Troll (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Troll?src=hash) - so far so good (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125482.png)

ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=vega) | August 22, 2018

Understanding the Earth's weather: Arianespace launches Europe's Aeolus wind-monitoring satellite

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223167.jpg)

Arianespace marked another mission accomplished for the Earth's sustainable development as its light-lift Vega vehicle successfully orbited Europe's Aeolus – the first satellite designed to profile wind profiles on a global scale.

Lifting off from the Spaceport's Vega Launch Complex at 6:20:09 p.m. local time in French Guiana – the planned precise moment of launch – Vega lofted its passenger during a flight lasting just under 55 minutes, with Aeolus placed into a Sun-synchronous orbit.

Built by Airbus Defence and Space, the satellite carries a laser Doppler wind LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system called Aladin that will probe the lowermost 30 km. of the atmosphere in measuring winds around the Earth.

The LIDAR's near-real-time observations will provide reliable wind profiles, further improving the accuracy of numerical weather and climate prediction, as well as advance the understanding of tropical dynamics and processes relevant to climate variability.

Спойлер

Vega's success by the numbers

In post-launch comments from the Spaceport, Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël congratulated this mission's customer – the European Space Agency (ESA) – and underscored his company's continuing contributions to space research and science at the service of such institutions. "Ensuring reliable and independent access to space for Europe is our no. 1 mission," he added. "It would not be possible without the long-term partnership we have with ESA."

Aeolus is the milestone 50th satellite – and the eighth dedicated to Earth observation – launched by Arianespace for ESA. It is one of the agency's Earth Explorer missions, which address key scientific challenges identified by the science community and demonstrate breakthrough technology in observing techniques.

Marking another milestone, Aeolus also is the 120th Airbus-produced spacecraft launched by Arianespace, with 20 more still in the company's order book.

A track record of excellence

Designated Flight VV12, today's mission was Vega's 12th since entering service in 2012 (all of which have been successful), and it further demonstrated the capabilities of a light-lift vehicle that completes Arianespace's launcher family – joining the company's medium-lift Soyuz and heavyweight Ariane 5 in reliable side-by-side operations from the Spaceport in French Guiana. Vega is provided to Arianespace by Italy's Avio, which is the industrial prime contractor.

The 12 successful missions performed to date by Vega were for both institutional customers and commercial export customers, confirming the launcher's operational capabilities as well as its adaptability.

Flight VV12 was Arianespace's fifth mission in 2018, and the company's first this year using Vega. Next up in the company's manifest is the milestone 100th launch of a workhorse Ariane 5, which will orbit the Horizons 3e and Azerspace-2/Intelsat-38 satellites in September.

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 46 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1032391019591950336)

Aeolus has separated from the AVUM stage and is now in orbit 321 km up. AVUM will deorbit over the Indian Ocean in about an hour

ЦитироватьVega (http://www.arianespace.com/press-releases/?taxonomy%5Bpress-release-category%5D=vega) | August 22, 2018

Another successful launch by Arianespace and Vega for ESA and sustainable development

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223163.jpg)

Arianespace has successfully launched the European Space Agency's (ESA) Aeolus satellite, the first space mission designed to acquire profiles of Earth's winds on a global scale.

The launch took place on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 6:20 p.m. (local time) from the Guiana Space Center (CSG), Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana (South America).

Today's launch was the fifth of the year for Arianespace, the first with Vega and the 12th successful launch in a row of this light launcher.

This innovative mission once again clearly demonstrates Arianespace's commitment to sustainable development, and to guaranteeing independent access to space for Europe.

Спойлер

Arianespace supports sustainable development

Aeolus is the first space mission designed to measure wind profiles across the entire planet. It will deliver data and 3D dynamic maps that will help improve weather forecasting and climate research. The first wind observation satellite using laser technology, Aeolus carries a single instrument, a Doppler wind lidar called Aladin (Atmospheric LAser Doppler INstrument). This instrument will probe the atmosphere with pioneering ultraviolet laser pulses, which will enhance our understanding of tropical dynamics and processes relevant to climate variability.

Fully committed to making life better on Earth, Arianespace has already launched 65 Earth observation satellites in the framework of 46 missions. These satellites primarily are designed for meteorology, mapping and environmental monitoring (land, oceans and atmosphere). Arianespace leverages the versatility of its complete family of launch vehicles, Ariane, Soyuz and Vega, to carry out these missions for European institutions and governments, as well as in export markets.

Three more Arianespace missions for Earth observation and environmental monitoring are scheduled in 2018, using all three launchers in the family.

50th successful mission for ESA

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/223001.jpg)

Along with the successful launch of the four latest Galileo satellites by Ariane 5 on July 25, today's launch reflects the strong collaboration between ESA and Arianespace. In fact, this mission was the 50th performed for the European Space Agency by Arianespace, as it continues to guarantee independent and reliable access to space for Europe, and enable people from around the world to benefit from Europe's ongoing investment in space technology.

Arianespace's next mission for ESA will be the launch of BepiColombo, a major scientific mission to explore the planet Mercury. BepiColombo is expected to lift off on an Ariane 5 in October this year.

12th successful Vega launch in a row

Today's launch of Aeolus marks the 12th success in a row for the Vega light launcher since it was introduced at the Guiana Space Center in 2012. Based on this flawless performance, Vega has established its position as the most reliable and versatile launcher in its class. Avio, based at Colleferro in Italy, is the prime contractor for Vega, which was developed within the scope of an ESA program. Arianespace's backlog includes nine missions for the Vega and Vega C launcher versions: one-third for European institutions and two-thirds for export customers. These nine missions comprise eight for Earth observation, as well as a grouped mission using the SSMS (Small Spacecraft Mission Service) system, which can carry up to 81 small satellites – demonstrating the launcher's versatility and ability to respond to the dynamic small satellite market.

The development of the new-generation Vega C is continuing, with a first flight planned in 2019. Compared with the current version, Vega C will offer higher performance in terms of payload capacity (weight and volume) and greater flexibility to handle a wider range of missions (from nanosatellites to large optical and radar observation satellites), further increasing the competitiveness of Arianespace's launch solutions.

Shortly after the announcement of the satellite's orbital injection, Stéphane Israël, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace, said: "With this fifth mission of the year, and the first launched by Vega, Arianespace also chalks up its 50th mission for the European Space Agency and expresses its primary vocation of ensuring autonomous and reliable access to space for Europe.

"Arianespace is all the more proud of this success because Aeolus will support sustainable development and further our understanding of climate phenomena. More than ever, space will play a critical role in the mobilization needed to safeguard our planet.

"Today's flight also marks the 12th consecutive successful Vega launch, clearly confirming this launcher as best in its class. I would like to thank all our partners who contributed to this success: Airbus Defence and Space, which built this high-tech satellite; ESA and its member-states who are part of the Vega program; Avio, prime contractor for the Vega launcher and all of its industrial partners; CNES/CSG, our ground segment companies and all staff at the space center. Lastly, congratulations to everyone at Arianespace for this fifth launch of the year."

ЦитироватьAeolus

[/li]
• The Aeolus satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space.
• It weighed 1,357 kg at launch, and will be placed in Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 320 km. It offers a design life of three years.
  

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032403829235437568)

#Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) should now have spread its wings and started to rotate them towards the Sun(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125593.png) to replenish its batteries(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125433.png)

https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DlPW_aaWsAAEZhY.mp4 (https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DlPW_aaWsAAEZhY.mp4)
(video (https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DlPW_aaWsAAEZhY.mp4) 0:14)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 42 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032404517105610752)

Acquisition of #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) signal(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125425.png) at #Inuvik (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Inuvik?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125421.png) — the @SSCspace (https://twitter.com/SSCspace) station in Northern Canada

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032404657296093185)

Ground controllers report solar array deployment complete! #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) is pointing to the Sun(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125593.png) and generating its own power!(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125433.png)

ЦитироватьArianespace Flight VV12 - Aeolus Launch Sequence

arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 22 авг. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьAeolus deployment

SciNews (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU6ZwoTQtKWfz1urL7XcbA)

Опубликовано: 22 авг. 2018 г.

Цитировать

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

AEOLUS LIFTOFF REPLAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=g3hxFwznsfM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=g3hxFwznsfM) (2:55) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=g3hxFwznsfM)

The Aeolus satellite lifted off on a Vega rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST, 18:20 local time) on 22 August 2018.

Цитировать

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Honora (http://blogs.esa.int/eolaunches/author/honora/)

ESA'S AEOLUS WIND SATELLITE LAUNCHED

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/101196.jpg)
Aeolus heads for orbit. (ESA/CNES/Arianespace)

ESA's Earth Explorer Aeolus satellite has been launched into polar orbit on a Vega rocket. Using revolutionary laser technology, Aeolus will measure winds around the globe and play a key role in our quest to better understand the workings of our atmosphere. Importantly, this novel mission will also improve weather forecasting.

Carrying the 1360 kg Aeolus satellite, the Vega rocket lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 21:20 GMT (23:20 CEST, 18:20 local time) on 22 August.

Some 55 minutes later, Vega's upper stage delivered Aeolus into orbit and contact was established through the Troll ground station in Antarctica at 00:30 CEST on 23 August.

Named after Aeolus, who in Greek mythology was appointed 'keeper of the winds' by the Gods, this novel mission is the fifth in the family of ESA's Earth Explorers, which address the most urgent Earth-science questions of our time.

"Aeolus epitomises the essence of an Earth Explorer. It will fill a gap in our knowledge of how the planet functions and demonstrate how cutting-edge technology can be used in space," said Jan Wörner, ESA Director General.

ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Josef Aschbacher, added, "Aeolus carries the first instrument of its kind and uses a completely new approach to measuring the wind from space. Such pioneering technology has meant that it has been a demanding mission to develop, but thanks to all the teams involved we are thrilled that this extraordinary satellite is now in orbit.

"We look forward to it living up to expectations!"

Спойлер

Highlighted by the World Meteorological Organization, the lack of direct global wind measurements is one of the major deficits in the Global Observing System.

By filling this gap, Aeolus will give scientists the information they need to understand how wind, pressure, temperature and humidity are interlinked.

This new mission will provide insight into how the wind influences the exchange of heat and moisture between Earth's surface and the atmosphere – important aspects for understanding climate change.

Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. The first of its kind, the Aladin instrument includes revolutionary laser technology to generate pulses of ultraviolet light that are beamed down into the atmosphere to profile the world's winds – a completely new approach to measuring the wind from space.

While Aeolus is set to advance science, it will also benefit society. Although weather forecasts have advanced considerably in recent years, Aeolus will provide global wind profiles to improve the accuracy even further. In addition, its data will be used in air-quality models to improve forecasts of dust and other airborne particles that affect public health.

The satellite is being controlled from ESA's European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany. Controllers will spend the next few months carefully checking and calibrating the mission as part of its commissioning phase.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьArianespace Flight VV12 - Aeolus - Successful Mission

arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 22 авг. 2018 г.
Опубликовано: 23 авг. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьArianespace Flight VV12 - Aeolus - Official Speeches

arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 22 авг. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьArianespace Flight VV12 - Aeolus (EN)
Доступ по ссылке

arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Трансляция началась 4 часа назад

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4XLImXKgSohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4XLImXKgSo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4XLImXKgSo) (1:52:20)

ЦитироватьArianespace Vol VV12 - Aeolus (FR)
Доступ по ссылке

arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Трансляция началась 4 часа назад

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7gfsU5ss2shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7gfsU5ss2s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7gfsU5ss2s) (1:52:55)

ЦитироватьРакета Vega вывела на орбиту спутник Aeolus для исследования климата Земли

Космос (http://tass.ru/kosmos) | 23 августа, 1:14 | дата обновления: 23 августа, 3:36 UTC+3

ПАРИЖ, 23 августа. /ТАСС/. Ракета-носитель легкого класса Vega успешно доставила на орбиту в ночь на четверг европейский спутник Aeolus, предназначенный для исследования климата на Земле. Выведение аппарата на расчетную высоту подтвердили в пресс- службе Европейского космического агентства (ЕКА), которое выступило заказчиком запуска.

Ракета стартовала с космодрома в Куру (Гвианский космический центр, ГКЦ) в Латинской Америке в 18:20 по местному времени (00:20 мск). "Спустя 55 минут верхняя ступень ракеты Vega доставила Aeolus на орбиту, контакт [с аппаратом] был установлен через наземную станцию Тролль в Антарктике в 00:30 по Центральноевропейскому времени (01:30 мск - прим. ТАСС) 23 августа", - уточнили в ЕКА.

Новый орбитальный аппарат, отметили в агентстве, "будет использовать революционные лазерные технологии для измерения скорости ветров на земном шаре и будет играть ключевую роль в изучении принципов работы атмосферы". Кроме того, как рассчитывают ученые, спутник позволит выполнять более точные прогнозы погоды на Земле.

Спойлер

"Aeolus является квинтэссенцией того, что называется аппаратом для исследования Земли, - отметил после успешного запуска генеральный директор ЕКА Йоханн-Дитрих Вернер. - Он заполнит пробел в наших познаниях о том, как функционирует планета, и продемонстрирует, как передовые технологии могут применяться в космосе".

Первоначально запуск Vega с космодрома ГКЦ должен был состояться во вторник, однако старт был отложен на сутки из- за неблагоприятных метеоусловий. Как объяснили тогда в компании Arianespace, обслуживающей старты с этой площадки во Французской Гвиане, пуску помешал сильный ветер в районе стартовой площадки.

Aeolus получил свое название в честь Эола - полубога из древнегреческой мифологии, который был повелителем ветров и властелином воздушной стихии. Измерительные приборы аппарата должны позволить ученым исследовать взаимосвязь между ветрами, давлением и влажностью в земной атмосфере. Наиболее инновационным инструментом, установленным на Aeolus, в ЕКА называют лазерный сканер, который будет посылать в атмосферу пучки ультрафиолетовых лучей для сбора данных о ветрах на Земле. Контролировать деятельность спутника будут специалисты ЕКА из европейского центра управления полетами в Дармштадте - в ближайшие месяцы они будут заниматься отладкой аппарата перед началом его полноценной работы.

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 37 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1032448939067404289)

The @esa (https://twitter.com/esa) Aeolus satellite has been cataloged as 43600, in a 314 x 314 km x 96.7 deg sun-sync orbit with 0600 local time descending node.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 33 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1032451751411154946)

Aeolus' Vega upper stage, AVUM VV12, also entered orbit. Although it completed slightly more than one orbit, it is not expected to get a US catalog number. AVUM's deorbit burn at 2303 UTC caused it to reenter over the Indian Ocean about 91E 19S around 2343 UTC

ЦитироватьPioneering European winds observatory launched aboard Vega rocket
August 22, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144748.jpg)
A Vega rocket lifted off Wednesday fr om French Guiana with the European Space Agency's Aeolus Earth science mission. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – S. Martin

A European satellite hosting a spaceborne laser crafted to measure winds in Earth's atmosphere rode a Vega launcher into orbit Wednesday fr om French Guiana, a thundering sendoff for a three-year mission that could improve global weather forecasts.

The 98-foot-tall (30-meter) Vega rocket, primarily built by Avio in Italy, lit its solid-fueled first stage motor at 2120:09 GMT (5:20:09 p.m. EDT; 6:20:09 p.m. French Guiana time) Wednesday and steered on a trajectory north away from the European-run spaceport on the northern coast of South America.

Flying for the 12th time, the four-stage Vega launcher reached supersonic speed in around 30 seconds, darting through a partly cloud sky shortly before sunset at the space base on the edge of the Amazon jungle.

Two more solid-fueled rocket motors fired in succession, then an upper stage engine fed by liquid propellants ignited twice to maneuver the European Space Agency's Aeolus satellite into a polar orbit approximately 199 miles (320 kilometers) above Earth.

After flying halfway around the world, automated commands sent from the Vega rocket's on-board computer released the Aeolus spacecraft around 55 minutes into the mission. Ground stations in Australia and Antarctica received the first signals from the satellite, and relayed the telemetry to the European Space Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany, wh ere engineers confirmed Aeolus was in good shape following launch.

Arianespace, the French launch services provider in charge of Wednesday's Vega flight, declared the launch successful, making the light-class launcher 12-for-12 since its debut in 2012.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144866.jpg)
Artist's concept of the Aeolus satellite in orbit. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

"Arianespace is delighted to confirm that Aeolus has been safely separated in its targeted sun synchronous orbit. Congratulations to all," said Stephane Israel, CEO of Arianespace. "Aeolus will precisely measure wind flow and air currents on the Earth, improving weather forecasting, and ultimately our ability to protect the environment. Aeolus demonstrates how assets in space can help to preserve our planet, and how Europe can contribute to this critical mission."

Funded by the European Space Agency and built by Airbus Defense and Space, the 480 million euro ($550 million) Aeolus mission is nearly two decades in the making. Since receiving ESA's formal go-ahead in 2002, Aeolus has suffered numerous delays as engineers encountered problems with the mission's laser instrument.

Aeolus will gather the first comprehensive worldwide measurements of wind speed — over oceans and land masses — from Earth's surface to an altitude of nearly 100,000 feet (30 kilometers).

Data collected by the Aeolus satellite will be fed into numerical weather prediction models, replacing simulated "boundary conditions" in the computers models with near real-time measurements from space.

"We are serving the meteorological community as the primary user, but also the climate research community," said Anders Elfving, Aeolus project manager at ESA. "For decades, there has been an outcry from these communities for explicit wind measurements, explicit wind profiles in the whole atmosphere, globally and continuously."

Aeolus was not conceived by ESA as an operational weather satellite, but forecasters will be some of the prime beneficiaries of the mission. The mission is named for a figure in Greek mythology who was appointed by the gods as "keeper of the winds,"

"We have a unique product which can be — if proven to the right quality — directly injected into the weather models," Elfving said in a phone interview with Spaceflight Now before the launch. "Our main client is the ECMWF, the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts ... in the UK, and they will certainly inject our data straight into their model and get a lot of good boundary conditions for winds, which are today completely missing."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144871.jpg)
Artist's concept of the Aeolus satellite measuring winds from low Earth orbit. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

Aeolus carries a high-power ultraviolet laser fired at 50 pulses per second toward the ground. Light emitted from the laser — the centerpiece of Aeolus's single science instrument — will bounce off air molecules, aerosol and cloud particles, and Earth's surface.

A tiny fraction of the scattered ultraviolet photons will reflect back toward a 5-foot (1.5-meter) telescope on the Aeolus satellite.

"Aeolus actually has its own sun on-board in the sense that it's sending out laser light into the atmosphere, and this laser light is then scattered back from air molecules and particles in the atmosphere," said Anne Grete Straume, ESA's Aeolus mission scientist.

The light will return to the Aeolus satellite's Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument — ALADIN — with a slightly different color. By analyzing the change in color caused by the motion of atmospheric air molecules — known as the Doppler effect — scientists can derive wind speeds.

The Doppler effect is the same process that causes an ambulance's siren to sound different when it approaches and drives away.

"The same happens to the light which is sent out by the satellite," Straume said in an ESA video interview. "The movement of the air molecules and the particles in its path will actually stretch or compress the light wave, and you get a different color coming back to the instrument.

"We measure the back reflection of the air and the particles at different ranges from the instrument, and from this you can actually measure the winds at different altitudes through the atmosphere from the surface up to the stratosphere," she said. "About 30 kilometers is the top level that we will be able to measure."

No other space mission has been able to measure winds at multiple layers of the atmosphere on a global scale. Previous satellites have been limited to deriving winds measurements by tracking the movement of clouds and aerosols, or by measuring the effect of winds on the ocean surface.

But Aeolus will be able to measure wind speeds in clear skies, eliminating the limitations of other missions. Meteorologists currently use weather balloons and airplanes for wind data, but the observations are spotty.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144813.jpg)
A technician inspects the telescope on the ALADIN instrument aboard the Aeolus satellite. Credit: ESA

Wind measurements from Aeolus "will fill a significant gap in the wind observing system, particularly in the upper troposphere, the lower stratosphere, in the tropics and over the oceans, wh ere in situ wind observations are lacking," scientists Michael Rennie and Lars Isaksen from the ECMWF wrote in a blog post earlier this month.

Researchers also intend to analyze data from Aeolus to gain a better understanding of how winds are generated, and how atmospheric currents are linked to changes in Earth's climate.

"The winds are connecting all the areas together," Straume said. "It's transporting air from one place to the next, and it's also what you feel on the ground, which will actually feed into the storms and the weather.

"There will be scientific users who want to learn more about winds, the relationship between wind, temperature and pressure, and also climate modelists in order to make these long forecasts into the years to come," Straume said. "They need to understand how the wind is working, and they will pick up our data.

"I'm really looking forward to the first light coming back through the instrument, and being sent down to Earth and analyzed, and we will see what the instrument really can do," she said. "And I'm looking very much forward to the first wind observations and these bineg used by the weather forecast models."

As the satellite orbits nearly 200 miles above the Earth, Aeolus will point its ultraviolet laser beam at an angle of 35 degrees to the side of its ground track, in the direction away from the sun.

Aeolus launched into a "dawn-dusk" polar orbit, meaning the spacecraft will roughly follow the boundary between day and night as it travels in a north-south direction, circling the planet every 90 minutes or so.

"We are actually shooting our laser pulse in a slant angle of 35 degrees perpendicular to the orbit, and measuring the line-of-sight return wind speed," Elfving told Spaceflight Now. "For all purposes, the vertical winds are very small with respect to horizontal winds. So what we've promised to give are horizontal line-of-sight winds, which in practice means, more or less, the east-west wind all over the world. That may sound limited, but when meteorologists but that boundary condition of that vector into their overall wind models, they get 75 to 80 percent knowledge of the total wind vector."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144812.jpg)
The Aeolus satellite will measure winds by pointing its laser instrument at a 35-degree angle off its ground track in the direction away from the sun. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

The long wait has not tempered expectations for Aeolus.

"We were initially promising that we would be flying in 2007, or at least in early 2008," said Elfving, who became Aeolus project manager in 2010. "Yes, we have had a 10-and-a-half or 11-year delay. My director said we are not ashamed at all of that. We are very proud to have sustained through all the troubles because there is actually no other comparable mission implemented in the world."

Engineers determined Aeolus needed an ultraviolet laser to give Aeolus the capability to monitor global winds. A laser operating in visible wavelengths, such as the laser aboard the U.S.-French CALIPSO satellite, would only be tuned to track cloud motion.

Ultraviolet lasers flown in space on previous tech demo and Earth science missions have not succeeded. Most recently, an ultraviolet laser on NASA's Cloud-Aerosol Transport System instrument on the International Space Station failed soon after it was activated in 2015.

Some of the major challenges that faced the Aeolus team included selecting materials that can cope with the high-temperature output of the laser.

"We pulse our optics 50 times every second, and this goes on year after year, and this intense pulse creates 1,700 degrees on the optical surface of the optics, and will fatigue the optics in the long run," Elfving said. "So we have had tremendous development of the coatings of the optics to withstand this high laser pulse. We are actually our own sun."

Managers ordered one of the most significant redesigns of the ALADIN instrument aboard Aeolus to ensure the sensor's optical surfaces remain free of contamination.

"If there are some remaining hydrocarbons on the surface of the optics, and the UV light hits it, it will carbonize, so blacken, the surface and reduce dramatically the reflection or transmissibility of the optics," Elfving said. "That has been a pain for many missions trying to do this."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144810.jpg)
The Aeolus satellite inside a clean room at the Guiana Space Center before its encapsulation inside the Vega rocket's payload fairing. Credit: ESA

Despite strict clean room controls on the ground, all space missions launch with some amount of contamination, which can outgas in orbit once heated by the sun. The high-energy laser aboard Aeolus could also lead to outgassing as it warms up materials inside the ALADIN instrument.

Engineers determined they could flush the ALADIN instrument with tiny injections of pure oxygen throughout the Aeolus mission. Two high-pressure tanks carrying a combined load of around 31 pounds (14 kilograms) of liquid oxygen will gradually supply the instrument once in space.

"We have a regulation system which takes the high pressure oxygen down to an extremely low pressure in orbit — 40 to 60 pascal — which is an incredibly light pressure, very few molecules," Elfving said.

The amount of oxygen gas inside the instrument in space will be equivalent to the oxygen produced by a small plant indoors, according to ESA.

"But it is enough to cause combustion of this organic material which always remains on the optics," Elfving said. "It helps to catalyze and burn away that, instead of carbonizing it and blackening the optics.

"Those two, I would say, have been the main challenges — laser-induced contamination and laser-induced damage," he added. "For the rest, we are talking about stabilities in alignment of microns or nanometers, and that's obviously a tough challenge, especially when we are pumping a lot of energy into the laser.

"That put us between a rock and a hard place," Elfving said. "So it has taken us about 10 years to get from a prototype laser to a flight-worthy laser with a lifetime that meets our requirements. In the beginning, due to this laser-induced contamination, we lost about 50 percent of the energy within hours, and we now we have run a laser with absolutely no degradation for six months and beyond. So we're very confident that have achieved the state of the art."

Concerns about the sensitivity of the Aeolus satellite's laser instrument drove managers to transport the spacecraft from Europe to the mission's launch base in South America by ship instead of airplane. Engineers worried the pressure increase during an airplane's descent would damage the instrument package on Aeolus.

There were no such concerns about a pressure decrease like the conditions the spacecraft encountered as it climbed into space.

Once the spacecraft arrived in French Guiana, teams fueled Aeolus and put the spacecraft through an extra step of cleaning. Technicians used a powerful ultraviolet torch to search for particles of dust residing on the satellite, then used a soft brush and vacuum cleaner to remove any contamination they found.

"This is a bit of a tedious task, but one that is necessary," ESA said in a statement.

The Aeolus satellite was built by Airbus Defense and Space's spacecraft manufacturing plant in Stevenage, England, and is based on the satellite design used by ESA's Rosetta and Mars Express interplanetary probes. With its maneuvering fuel loaded, Aeolus weighed around 3,013 pounds (1,367 kilograms) at launch, according to Elfving.

Airbus Defense and Space's division in Toulouse, France, developed the ALADIN instrument, and the laser transmitters were supplied by the Italian company Leonardo in Florence and Pomezia, Italy.

The launch was delayed an extra day from Tuesday to Wednesday to allow for more favorable high-altitude winds over the Guiana Space Center.

The early hours of Aeolus's mission appeared to go according to plan. ESA officials said the satellite extended its power-generating solar panels on time, and the first three days of the mission will focus on activations of key spacecraft systems, putting the observatory into a stable configuration for testing.

"Then we start switching on the laser and the instrument," Elfving said. "That will take around two weeks if it goes well, but it could take longer because there's a lot of tuning and observing of this high-energy laser. We don't want to damage anything if we have any wrong settings. In October, we expect to start collecting and calibrating data."

Scientists will meticulously compare Aeolus's data with wind measurements collected by airplanes. The calibration campaign will extend into next year, ensuring accuracy of the satellite's measurements.

"That will go on until the second quarter of 2019, and by that moment, we hope to have declared the quality such that meteorologists ... can start ingesting our data operationally," Elfving said.

Aeolus is the fifth in a series of ESA's Earth Explorer missions, a line of satellite projects designed to make measurements of a specific part of the Earth's land, sea, or atmospheric environments, while making advancements in technology for future Earth observation missions.

"Aeolus epitomizes the essence of an Earth Explorer," said Jan Woerner, ESA's director general, in a statement. "It will fill a gap in our knowledge of how the planet functions and demonstrate how cutting-edge technology can be used in space."

The next launch for Arianespace is scheduled for September, when the 100th flight of an Ariane 5 rocket is set to haul two commercial communications satellites into orbit. That mission will also mark the 300th launch managed by Arianespace since its formation.

The Vega rocket's next flight is scheduled for no earlier than December, with the Italian Space Agency's experimental PRISMA mission to test a new type of Earth-imaging camera in orbit.

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ЦитироватьAeolus highlights

European Space Agency, ESA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBaDdAbGlFDeS33shmlD0A)

Опубликовано: 23 авг. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьWhy measure wind?

European Space Agency, ESA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBaDdAbGlFDeS33shmlD0A)

Опубликовано: 23 авг. 2018 г.

Learn how Earth's wind is generated and why we need to measure it. Discover how ESA's Aeolus satellite will use laser technology to measure these invisible streams of air to help understand our climate and to improve our weather forecasts.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032982087920480256)

Home sweet home (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125353.png)! The first full tracking station pass (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125421.png) with #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125316.png) has just begun from the #EarthExplorers (https://twitter.com/hashtag/EarthExplorers?src=hash) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125295.png) "Dedicated Control Room" - now home for #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) operations for its life in orbit

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168909.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg)ESA Operations‏Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 47 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1032988251089514498)

#Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125315.png)has today reached a vital stage in it's new life in space! After the critical first days in orbit, the #spacecraft (https://twitter.com/hashtag/spacecraft?src=hash) is now ready for commissioning, inc. switching on the hypermodern Aladin lidar instrument.
Read more about this milestone...

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Wind_mission_ready_for_next_phase ... (https://t.co/lUU2pT0glu)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168913.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67718.jpg)ESA‏Подлинная учетная запись @esa (https://twitter.com/esa) 10 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esa/status/1032998409630883840)

Teams at the @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) control centre in Germany have declared today that the critical first phase for #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash), Europe's wind mission launched on Wednesday, is complete.

Details:
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Wind_mission_ready_for_next_phase ... (https://t.co/5z9t6otwKH)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168917.jpg)

ЦитироватьArianespace Flight VV12 / Behind the Scenes of the Dream

arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 28 авг. 2018 г.

Arianespace has successfully launched the European Space Agency's (ESA) Aeolus satellite, the first space mission designed to acquire profiles of Earth's winds on a global scale.

The launch took place on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 6:20 p.m. (local time) from the Guiana Space Center (CSG), Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana (South America).

This launch was the fifth of the year for Arianespace, the first with Vega and the 12th successful launch in a row of this light launcher.

This innovative mission once again clearly demonstrates Arianespace's commitment to sustainable development, and to guaranteeing independent access to space for Europe.

ЦитироватьAeolus quick steps to launch

European Space Agency, ESA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBaDdAbGlFDeS33shmlD0A)

Опубликовано: 14 сент. 2018 г.

This time-lapse video shows ESA's #Aeolus (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%23Aeolus) satellite being prepared for liftoff. It includes shots from the cleanroom in France, its arrival by ship in French Guiana, preparations at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, roll out to the launch pad and, finally, liftoff on a Vega rocket on 22 August 2018.

Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. The first of its kind, the Aladin instrument includes revolutionary laser technology to generate pulses of ultraviolet light that are beamed down into the atmosphere to profile the world's winds – a completely new approach to measuring the wind from space.

ЦитироватьESA Euronews: Favourable winds for Aeolus

European Space Agency, ESA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBaDdAbGlFDeS33shmlD0A)

Опубликовано: 21 сент. 2018 г.

This edition of #Space (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%23Space) comes fr om the coast of northern Norway, wh ere we've come to the Andøya Space Centre to meet scientists working on a new satellite called Aeolus. This mission carries revolutionary laser technology to measure the wind around the entire globe. Lofted into orbit in August 2018 on a Vega rocket from French Guiana, Aeolus has only just begun its life in space. Engineers are now busy commissioning the mission to ensure that it will soon be ready to deliver novel data on winds. This will be used to improve our understanding of the atmosphere and to improve weather forecasts.

ЦитироватьFlying under Aeolus

European Space Agency, ESA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBaDdAbGlFDeS33shmlD0A)

Опубликовано: 7 февр. 2019 г.

Following the launch of Aeolus on 22 August 2018, scientists have been busy fine-tuning and calibrating this latest Earth Explorer satellite. Aeolus carries a revolutionary instrument, which comprises a powerful laser, a large telescope and a very sensitive receiver. It works by emitting short, powerful pulses – 50 pulses per second – of ultraviolet light from a laser down into the atmosphere. The instrument then measures the backscattered signals from air molecules, dust particles and water droplets to provide vertical profiles that show the speed of the world's winds in the lowermost 30 km of the atmosphere. These measurements are needed to improve weather forecasts. As part of the working being done to calibrate this novel mission, scientists have been taking similar measurements from an aircraft carrying an airborne version of Aeolus' instrument. The pilot flies the plane under the satellite as it orbits above so that measurements of wind can be compared.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg) ESA Operations‏ Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 54 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168534065118679042)

This morning, @ESA (https://twitter.com/esa)'s #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) Earth observation satellite fired its thrusters, moving it off a collision course with a @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) satellite in their #Starlink (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Starlink?src=hash) constellation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/176414.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg) ESA Operations‏ Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168533241873260544)

For the first time ever, ESA has performed a 'collision avoidance manoeuvre' to protect one of its satellites from colliding with a 'mega constellation' #SpaceTraffic (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceTraffic?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/176413.png)

ЦитироватьЕвропейский спутник уклонился от столкновения с аппаратом Маска
18:15 02.09.2019

МОСКВА, 2 сен - РИА Новости. Европейский спутник наблюдения Земли Aeolus выполнил маневр, чтобы не столкнуться с одним из космических аппаратов орбитальной группировки связи Starlink, развертываемой компанией SpaceX Илона Маска, сообщило Европейское космическое агентство (ЕКА).

Как отметило агентство в Twitter (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168533241873260544), для этого спутник Aeolus включил двигатели, в результате чего перешел на более высокую орбиту. Маневр уклонения был осуществлен впервые в истории ЕКА.

Спутник Aeolus был выведен на орбиту в августе 2018 года.

Starlink - спутниковая сеть следующего поколения, способная обеспечить землян широкополосным доступом в интернет. Практическая реализация проекта началась в феврале 2018 года с выводом на орбиту двух тестовых спутников - Tintin-A и Tintin-B. Всего планируется запустить около 12 тысяч спутников. SpaceX оценивала затраты на реализацию проекта Starlink в 10 миллиардов долларов, но эксперты считают эту цифру заниженной. Первые 60 спутников Starlink были запущены в мае 2019 года.

Ранее представитель ЦНИИмаша (головной научный институт "Роскосмоса") Юрий Колюка сообщил, что около 250 разрушений космических объектов (действующие и недействующие спутники, отработавшие ступени ракет-носителей и разгонные блоки) зафиксировано на орбите с 1961 года, когда произошло первое подобное событие. По его словам, разрушения космических объектов происходили либо в результате их взрывов, либо после столкновения с другими объектами.

[свернуть]

Цитировать

Цитироватьhttps://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168534065118679042 (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168534065118679042)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg) ESA Operations‏ Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168534747724820482)

Experts in our #SpaceDebris (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceDebris?src=hash) team calculated the risk of collision between these two active satellites, determining the safest option for #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) would be to increase its altitude and pass over the @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) satellite #CollisionAvoidance (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CollisionAvoidance?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/176415.jpg)


2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168535780056346624)

The manoeuvre took place about 1/2 an orbit before the potential collision. Not long after the collision was expected, #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash) called home as usual to send back its science data – proving the manoeuvre was successful and a collision was indeed avoided


2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168536038601572353)

It is very rare to perform collision avoidance manoeuvres with active satellites. The vast majority of ESA avoidance manoeuvres are the result of dead satellites or fragments from previous collisions #SpaceDebris (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceDebris?src=hash)


2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168537063316185088)

In 2018, ESA performed 28 #collisionavoidance (https://twitter.com/hashtag/collisionavoidance?src=hash) manoeuvres across its fleet. See for example a 2018 manoeuvre by @ESA_Cryosat (https://twitter.com/esa_cryosat):

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/68356.jpg) ESA Operations‏ Подлинная учетная запись @esaoperations (https://twitter.com/esaoperations) 10 июл. 2018 г. (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1016643870795485185)

Yesterday, for the 2nd time this year, teams @esa (https://twitter.com/esa)'s @ESA_EO (https://twitter.com/ESA_EO) control room altered the path of #CryoSat (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CryoSat?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) preventing a collision with an unknown object. Chances of collision went (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125628.png)1/10000 so a Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre (CAM) was performed! Image shows 3D collision plot [1/3]

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166247.jpg)

2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168539125634482176)

These avoidance manoeuvres take a lot of time to prepare - from determining the future orbital positions of all functioning spacecraft, to calculating the risk of collision and potential outcomes of different actions (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125427.png)Inside ESA's #SpaceDebris (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceDebris?src=hash) Office

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/176416.jpg)


2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168539686819770368)

As the number of satellites in orbit increases, due to 'mega constellations' such as #Starlink (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Starlink?src=hash) comprising hundreds or even thousands of satellites, today's 'manual' collision avoidance process will become impossible...

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/176417.jpg)


1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168540912282165248)

ESA is preparing to automate this process using #AI (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AI?src=hash) #ArtificialIntelligence (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArtificialIntelligence?src=hash). From the initial assessment of a potential collision to a satellite moving out of the way, automated systems are becoming necessary to protect our space infrastructure
#SpaceSafety (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceSafety?src=hash)
#SpaceTraffic (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceTraffic?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)


1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1168542951657619462)

ESA's future will be decided at this year's ministerial council in November. Find out more about the Agency's #SpaceSafety (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceSafety?src=hash) proposal here: http://blogs.esa.int/space19plus/programmes/space-debris/ ... (https://t.co/lJi4X399RK) and stay tuned for a machine learning competition in which you can play with ESA's #spacedebris (https://twitter.com/hashtag/spacedebris?src=hash) data!
#Space19plus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Space19plus?src=hash)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/176423.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/176424.jpg)
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Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67577.jpg) Cosmic Penguin‏ @Cosmic_Penguin (https://twitter.com/Cosmic_Penguin) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1168546608868315136)

So apparently the Starlink satellite encountered is one of those that have problems (2019-029AV/44278) and had its orbit lowered to around 310 km altitude, around the same as the polar orbit height Aeolus is orbiting.


(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/35114.png) Cees Bassa‏ @cgbassa (https://twitter.com/cgbassa) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/cgbassa/status/1168556609095819264)

According to the latest @18SPCS (https://twitter.com/18SPCS) orbital elements, AEOLUS would have passed within 10 km from a Starlink satellite (object 44278/2019-029AV) at 11:02:42UTC today. The relative velocity was 14.4 km/s. A collision would've been messy.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/184967.jpg) Jonathan O'Callaghan‏ Подлинная учетная запись @Astro_Jonny (https://twitter.com/Astro_Jonny) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Astro_Jonny/status/1168592399729397767)

So, I've just had it confirmed from another ESA source that #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) refused to move their #Starlink (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Starlink?src=hash) satellite when they were alerted to the risk of collision with #Aeolus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aeolus?src=hash), which was 1 in 1,000, ten times higher than the threshold for a collision avoidance manoeuvre. (1/5)


2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Astro_Jonny/status/1168592401323216896)

SpaceX sent a short email to ESA saying they would not move their satellite. It's not clear why - they didn't mention if the satellite was active or not, apparently (ESA weren't even aware what the satellite was). (2/5)


2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Astro_Jonny/status/1168592402728329217)

ESA have been pretty frustrated with SpaceX so far. There has been very little communication regarding Starlink, despite repeated attempts by ESA to contact them (this is the first email SpaceX had sent).  (3/5)


2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Astro_Jonny/status/1168592404208848898)

As to why Aeolus had to move and not Starlink, my source just said "in space there are no rules". Basically, SpaceX said they wouldn't move. So Aeolus had to move.  (ESA said they were glad they knew one way or the other, however) (4/5)


2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Astro_Jonny/status/1168592405681070080)

As of yet SpaceX has not responded to a request for comment on this. I'll have a story up on @Forbes (https://twitter.com/Forbes) soon with full quotes. (5/5)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29262.jpg) Jeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1168919094265044996)

SpaceX, in a new statement, says they were aware of the potential Aeolus/Starlink collision, but at first the probability was low. When the probability increased, "a bug in our on-call paging system prevented the Starlink operator from seeing the follow on correspondence."


1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1168919423195013120)

SpaceX said had they been aware of the increased probability risk, "we would have coordinated with ESA to determine best approach with their continuing with their maneuver or our performing a maneuver."


1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1168919780788711424)

That also would seem to contradict media reports that SpaceX "refused" to move its Starlink satellite. /end

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1082043390890364928/gpJHcmLv_bigger.jpg) Loren Grush‏ Подлинная учетная запись @lorengrush (https://twitter.com/lorengrush) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/lorengrush/status/1168917747109191681)

Statement from SpaceX on the ESA/Starlink potential collision on Monday

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/176479.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225259.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225338.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2015/06/Measuring_cyclones)
Aeolus was recently manoeuvred to avoid collision with a satellite in a constellation

ESA SPACECRAFT DODGES LARGE CONSTELLATION

3 September 2019 

[/li]
• For the first time, ESA has performed a 'collision avoidance manoeuvre' to protect one of its spacecraft fr om colliding with a satellite in a large constellation.
  

[/li]
• On Monday morning, the Agency's Aeolus Earth observation satellite fired its thrusters, moving it off a potential collision course with a SpaceX satellite in the Starlink constellation.
  

[/li]
• Constellations are fleets of hundreds up to thousands of spacecraft working together in orbit. They are expected to become a defining part of Earth's space environment in the next few years.
  

[/li]
• As the number of satellites in space dramatically increases, close approaches between two operated spacecraft will occur more frequently. Compared with such 'conjunctions' with space debris – non-functional objects including dead satellites and fragments from past collisions – these require coordination efforts, to avoid conflicting actions.
  

[/li]
• Today, the avoidance process between two operational satellites is largely manual and ad hoc – and will no longer be practical as the number of alerts rises with the increase in spaceflight.
  

[/li]
• "This example shows that in the absence of traffic rules and communication protocols, collision avoidance depends entirely on the pragmatism of the operators involved," explains Holger Krag, Head of Space Safety at ESA. 
  "Today, this negotiation is done through exchanging emails - an archaic process that is no longer viable as increasing numbers of satellites in space mean more space traffic."
  

[/li]
• ESA is proposing an automated risk estimation and mitigation initiative as part of its space safety activities. This will provide and demonstrate the types of technology needed to automate the collision avoidance process, allowing machine generated, coordinated and conflict-free manoeuvre decisions to speed up the entire process – something desperately needed to protect vital space infrastructure in the years to come.
  

What happened?

Data is constantly being issued by the 18th Space Control Squadron of the US Air Force, who monitor objects orbiting in Earth's skies, providing information to operators about any potential close approach.

With this data, ESA and others are able to calculate the probability of collision between their spacecraft and all other artificial objects in orbit.

About a week ago, the US data suggested a potential 'conjunction' at 11:02 UTC on Monday, 2 September, between ESA's Aeolus (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Aeolus) satellite and Starlink44 – one of the first 60 satellites recently launched in SpaceX's mega constellation, planned to be a 12 000 strong fleet by mid-2020.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225651.png) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2019/09/Predicted_conjunction_between_Aeolus_and_Starlink_44)
Predicted conjunction between Aeolus and Starlink 44

Experts in ESA's Space Debris (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Safety/Space_Debris) Office worked to calculate the collision probability, combining information on the expected miss distance, conjunction geometry and uncertainties in orbit information.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225401.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2017/04/ESA_Space_Debris_Facility)
At ESA's space debris facility

As days passed, the probability of collision continued to increase, and by Wednesday 28 August the team decided to reach out to Starlink to discuss their options. Within a day, the Starlink team informed ESA that they had no plan to take action at this point.

ESA's threshold for conducting an avoidance manoeuvre is a collision probability of more than 1 in 10 000, which was reached for the first time on Thursday evening.

An avoidance manoeuvre was prepared which would increase Aeolus' altitude by 350 m, ensuring it would comfortably pass over the other satellite, and the team continued to monitor the situation.

On Sunday, as the probability continued to increase, the final decision was made to implement the manoeuvre, and the commands were sent to the spacecraft from ESA's mission control (http://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESOC) centre in Germany.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225291.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2014/03/Understanding_Earth_s_winds)
Aeolus – understanding Earth's winds

At this moment, chances of collision were around 1 in 1000, 10 times higher than the threshold.

On Monday morning, the commands triggered a series of thruster burns at 10:14, 10:17 and 10:18 UTC, half an orbit before the potential collision.

About half an hour after the conjunction was predicted, Aeolus contacted home as expected. This was the first reassurance that the manoeuvre was correctly executed and the satellite was OK.

Since then, teams on the ground have continued to receive scientific data from the spacecraft, meaning operations are back to normal science-gathering mode.

Contact with Starlink early in the process allowed ESA to take conflict-free action later, knowing the second spacecraft would remain wh ere models expected it to be.

New space

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225578.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2018/07/A_satellite_mega-constellation)
A satellite mega-constellation

Since the first satellite launch in 1957, more than 5500 launches have lifted over 9000 satellites into space. Of these, only about 2000 are currently functioning, which explains why 90% of ESA's avoidance manoeuvres are the result of derelict and uncontrollable 'space debris'.

In the years to come, constellations of thousands of satellites are set to change the space environment, vastly increasing the number of active, operational spacecraft in orbit.

This new technology brings enormous benefits to people on Earth, including global internet access and precise location services, but constellations also bring with them challenges in creating a safe and sustainable space environment.

Space rules

"No one was at fault here, but this example does show the urgent need for proper space traffic management, with clear communication protocols and more automation," explains Holger.

"This is how air traffic control has worked for many decades, and now space operators need to get together to define automated manoeuvre coordination."

Autonomous spaceflight

As the number of satellites in orbit rapidly increases, today's 'manual' collision avoidance process will become impossible, and automated systems are becoming necessary to protect our space infrastructure.

Collision avoidance manoeuvres take a lot of time to prepare – from determining the future orbital positions of functioning spacecraft, to calculating the risk of collision and the many possible outcomes of different actions.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/225632.jpg) (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2019/05/Space_Safety_Security)
Space Safety & Security

ESA is preparing to automate this process using artificial intelligence, speeding up the processes of data crunching and risk analysis, from the initial warning of a potential conjunction to the satellite finally moving out of the way.

Such use of space-based communication links can save precious time when sending manoeuvre commands at the last minute.

Under its Space Safety (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Safety/Space_Safety) activities, ESA plans to invest in technologies required to automatically process collision warnings, coordinate manoeuvres with other operators and send the commands to spacecraft entirely automatically, ensuring the benefits of space can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.

. The use of space-based communication links to transmit commands can help to save precious time in order to uplink a manoeuvre decision in the last minute.

ЦитироватьFor now, once Aeolus reaches an altitude of 280 km, a series of commands sent over six days will use the satellite's remaining fuel to guide it towards the optimal position for reentry.

Then, a first manoeuvre will lower the satellite to an altitude of 250 km. This step will take several days, during which the teams will check on the health of the satellite and evaluate the next steps.

Four manoeuvres then usher Aeolus down to 150 km before 12 hours of final checks keep the satellite on track.

A final, critical manoeuvre at 150 km will direct Aeolus' journey home. The satellite will return in a matter of hours, the vast majority of it burning up in Earth's atmosphere.

ЦитироватьConfirmed in the early hours this morning, Aeolus reentered Earth's atmosphere on 28 July at around 21:00 CEST above Antarctica, confirmed by US Space Command.

The reentry comes after a series of complex manoeuvres that lowered Aeolus' orbit from an altitude of 320 km to just 120 km to reenter the atmosphere and burn up.

Цитата: V.V. от 29.07.2023 20:15:08что конкретно в этой операции вызвало такой энтузиазм

ЦитироватьEssentially trying to make a satellite do what it was never designed to do involved a huge amount of thinking and a lot of planning.

Цитата: Arzach от 29.07.2023 21:19:48Во-первых, в данном случае эта операция не была предусмотрена программой полёта