The time to ready EarthCARE for liftoff has officially begun. After a few weeks in storage in the NASA building at the Vandenberg launch site in California, the satellite, still packed safely in its transport container, has been moved to the Astrotech building where it will be put though a round of final tests.

Lifting the EarthCARE container to load onto truck. (ESA)

Lifting the EarthCARE container to load onto truck. (ESA)

Oversize truck for EarthCARE. (ESA)

Oversize truck for EarthCARE. (ESA)

Big truck for EarthCARE. (ESA)

Big truck for EarthCARE. (ESA)

EarthCARE container being taken to the Astrotech building. (ESA)

EarthCARE container being taken to the Astrotech building. (ESA)

The team has spent the last few days setting up all that is needed – the ground support equipment, a control room and office space – to carry out these ‘stand-alone’ tests.

The tests will ensure that the satellite is fit and well after its journey from Europe and make sure everything is correct and in place for EarthCARE to meet its Falcon 9 rocket.

After these all-important tests, the satellite will move on for the ‘combined operations’ part of the launch campaign, which involves the Space X launcher team.

EarthCARE flag is up. (ESA)

EarthCARE flag is up. (ESA)

Read more about EarthCARE.