After a smooth journey from Germany, ESA’s EarthCARE satellite has arrived at the Vandenberg Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Here, it is being stored over the next few weeks before it’s time get the satellite ready for liftoff in May.
EarthCARE, safely tucked up in its transport container, was loaded onto an Antonov aircraft at Munich airport on Friday 8 March.
EarthCARE loaded. (ESA)
Essential provisions also aboard. (ESA)
Time to board. (ESA)
The aircraft took off on Saturday 9 March bound for Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the US.
Looks more comfortable than regular commercial flights! (ESA)
Following customs clearance in Portsmouth, on Sunday 10 March it was time to take off again and head for the Vandenberg site.
Checking EarthCARE while waiting for customs clearance. (ESA)
As far as the team could see, the satellite container’s temperature remained fully within spec, that being above 15 deg C throughout the journey.
While EarthCARE was making its way from Germany to California, the ‘advance team’ had arrived in Vandenberg and checked out the facilities.
By Sunday evening, the Antonov had arrived at Vandenberg. The team arrived at the airfield just in time to see the Antonov landing – always an impressive site.
The aircraft taxied to the waiting area and the team waited for permission to walk out to meet their precious satellite.
Arrived in Vandenberg. (ESA)
Unloading was smooth with the containers were unloaded out of the back and transported to the NASA building.
The ramp was then assembled at the nose ramp and the satellite slid out. A crane then lifted it onto the waiting trailer.
There was then a pause for lunch of sandwiches while the Antonov crew repacked everything and were ready to depart. The team watched it leave.
EarthCARE transport arriving at NASA building (Credits: ESA)
The satellite then was transported to the NASA building and reversed on its trailer into Lab-1.
Unloading EarthCARE container (Credits: ESA)
The team carried out some routine checks such as checking the container’s temperature and purging with nitrogen gas.
Satellite purging and container flushing. (ESA)
Once completed the shutters were lowered and the satellite left in safety. The team then left for a well-earned rest.
All in all, transporting EarthCARE door to door, from Airbus’ facilities in Friedrichshafen to Vandenberg went very smoothly.
Read more about EarthCARE.
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