Find below a detailed timeline for the launch of Gaia on 19 December 2013. See notes for abbreviations. The usual disclaimer applies: This is a real-time activity and all times are subject to change. Follow launch live via ESA TV, starting 08:50 GMT (09:50 CET).
See also some additional post-separation timeline events listed in Gaia liftoff timeline in ESA web.
- AIT – The Astrium Integration Team/Suupport Team in Kourou, working on behalf of the ESA Gaia Project Office
- DMS – Soyuz Mission Director on console at Kourou
- S/C – Spacecraft (= Gaia)
- MET – Mission elapsed time (minue before H0, positive after)
| MET [hh:mm:ss] | UTC [hh:mm:ss] | Actor | Activity |
| -14:00:00 | 19:12:19 | ESOC | B-Team Flight Control Team & Software Support team on console in Main Control Room |
| -13:40:00 | 19:32:19 | ESOC | Flight Control Team: Voice & status check with spacecraft support team in Kourou |
| -13:35:00 | 19:37:19 | ESOC | Flight Control Team: Connect network interface to Kourou |
| -13:30:00 | 19:42:19 | ESOC | Gaia Project Representative (in ESOC): Voice loop & telephone check with Kourou |
| -13:25:00 | 19:47:19 | ESOC | Synchronise launch countdown clockc (Spacecraft Support Team to Project Represetative) |
| -13:00:00 | 20:12:19 | DMS | Spacecraft Mission Director (DMS) on console in Kourou |
| -12:50:00 | 20:22:19 | AIT | S/C switch-on |
| -12:03:00 | 21:09:19 | AIT | Start pre-launch operations timeline |
| -10:00:00 | 23:12:19 | AIT | End pre-launch operations timeline |
| -09:59:00 | 23:13:19 | AIT | S/C in prelaunch mode/ Start launch timeline (configures S/C for launch) |
| -09:00:00 | 00:12:19 | AIT | End of launch operations timeline |
| -08:15:00 | 00:57:19 | Soyuz | General weather forecast by ArianeSpace |
| -08:10:00 | 01:02:19 | AIT | Check final S/C configuration to declare GO for launch |
| -08:05:00 | 01:07:19 | ESOC | Ground segment status: confirm nominal |
| -06:00:00 | 03:12:19 | ESOC | Start of network countdown |
| -05:40:00 | 03:32:19 | DMS | DMS sends test fax to ESOC/Flight Director & Ground Operations Manager – both confirm reception |
| -05:26:00 | 03:46:19 | ESOC | Flight Director reports ground segment countdown status to DMS (in preparation for launcher fuelling) |
| -05:25:00 | 03:47:19 | AIT | DMS (in Kourou) reports to Flight Diretor (in ESOC) that authorisation to proceed with 3-stage fuelling has been granted |
| -04:30:00 | 04:42:19 | AIT | Launcher: Start 3-stage fuelling |
| -01:45:00 | 07:27:19 | AIT | Launcher: End of fuelling |
| -00:30:00 | 08:42:19 | ESOC | Flight Director reports ground segment ready for launch to Spacecraft Mission Director |
| -00:18:00 | 08:54:19 | DMS | S/C on internal power |
| -00:02:24 | 09:09:55 | Soyuz | Umbilical drop-off (expected loss of S/C telemetry on screens at ESOC) |
| -00:01:00 | 09:11:19 | Soyuz | Activation of the automatic launch sequence |
| -00:00:10 | 09:12:09 | Soyuz | Final Countdown |
| 00:00:00 | 09:12:19 | Soyuz | LIFT OFF / H0 nominal |
| Soyuz/Fregat events | |||
| 00:01:58 | – | Soyuz | 1st stage separation |
| 00:03:39 | – | Soyuz | Fairing separation |
| 00:04:47 | – | Soyuz | 2nd stage separation |
| 00:09:23 | – | Soyuz | Upper composite separation |
| 00:10:22 | – | Soyuz | Start Fregat -1st burn |
| 00:12:38 | – | Soyuz | End Fregat – 1st burn |
| 00:21:25 | – | Soyuz | Start Fregat -2nd burn |
| 00:36:58 | – | Soyuz | End Fregat -2nd burn |
| 00:41:58 | – | Soyuz | Separation |
| 00:58:20 | – | Soyuz | Start Fregat ACS – 3rd burn |
| 01:00:09 | – | Soyuz | End Fregat ACS – 3rd burn |
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