EarthCARE aligned, a snake and a hike

With EarthCARE settled into the cleanroom near the Vandenberg launch site in California, the team is well into ticking off items on the launch campaign to-do list, and it’s been a busy few days.

At the top of the list was to switch on the satellite, the first time it had been powered up since leaving Europe.

Testing EarthCARE. (ESA)

Then the team had to make sure that EarthCARE will fit the ‘launch vehicle adapter’, which is the component that joins the satellite to the rocket for liftoff.

This involved carefully lifting the satellite and placing it on the adapter, fitting the clamp band to hold it in place, then installing the umbilical and purge connections to ensure they fitted correctly. The umbilicals are needed to power up and monitor the satellite during the countdown phase and the purge line to keep the instruments clean up to the point of liftoff.

Checking alignment. (ESA)

EarthCARE to be checked for alignment. (ESA)

Then the team set about the series of tests that ensure that EarthCARE has survived its journey from Europe to the US. This includes checking that the satellite is still fully aligned.

Just outside the cleanroom, the local wildlife seems to be taking an interest.

A snake outside. (ESA)

Time to go for dinner. (ESA)

In parallel, the team at ESA’s ESOC Space Operations Centre in Germany has been absorbed in running numerous launch simulations, covering various scenarios.

Simulating EarthCARE launch at ESOC. (ESA)

And, in Vienna, the EarthCARE mission was a hot topic at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly.

After such a busy week, the team in California was able to get outside on Sunday and enjoy the weather – some went for a hike up Hazard Peak before it was back to ‘the office’ on Monday.

Out for a hike. (ESA)

Read more about EarthCARE.