The IXV ‘ground segment’ – the computers, systems, software and networks on Earth that enable the ground team to communicate with the spaceplane – is being switched on. Internal checks and confirmations are being done at mission control Turin (MCC Turin), the ground tracking stations at Libreville, Gabon, and Malindi, Kenya, and on board the Nos Aries ship in the Pacific. Libreville station has already reported internal readiness, and is now waiting for data flow checks with Turin. Lift-off set for 14:00 CET from Kourou on board Veg flight VV04.