Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

Follow ESA's intercontinental ballistic missile launch live today

Sentinel satellite soars heavenwards at 17:57 GMT

The European Space Agency (ESA) is gearing up for today's launch of its Sentinel 3-A satellite - part of the Copernicus Earth-monitoring programme.

The satellite will lift off at 17:57 GMT from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, atop a Rockot converted ICBM. ESA will have live coverage of the event from 17:00 GMT.

ESA's says its teams awaiting blast-off at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, are ready to roll, having run through a simulated launch.

Artist's impression of the Sentinel second stage separation. Pic: ESA

How ESA hopes the second stage separation will happen. Pic: ESA / ATG medialab

Satellite operations manager José Morales said: "We've practised all phases of the flight during more than 25 'sim' sessions, including when everything goes according to plan, and when anomalies or system failures occur.

"Every team member knows his or her job, and more importantly, we know how to react as a team to unexpected contingencies."

He concluded: "Sentinel-3A will present us with a classic set of challenges to get it through the launch and early orbits. Everything has to happen just right, in the right sequence and at the right time."

For more info on Sentinel 3-A and the Rockot lifter, we have an overview right here. ®

 

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like