BAF Acceptance successful

Despite few remaining uncertainties, MSG-3 launch campaign carries on with enthusiasm. Today, another successful milestone was achieved: the BAF (Batiment d’Assemblage final/Final Assembly building) acceptance.

This blind tower is somehow mysterious as already explained in the last part of the message (from BIL to BAF). No pictures from inside can be published, and one will have unfortunately to read further this message for getting the details of what happened today. As a compensation, a cropped picture of the acceptance team was authorised to be released.

From left to right: Alina (Arianespace), Francois (ESA), Jean (Thales), Jean-Claude (Eumetsat) and Cyril (ESA)

It is always impressive to visit the BAF due to the close presence of the Ariane 5 rocket inside. Getting to the upper platforms with the lift gives an impressive view on the solid rocket boosters and the main tank. Seen so closely from the windows of the moving lift, the rocket seems to take off: fortunately this is just a visual illusion :-)

For memory, the Ariane 5 VA207 will be a double launch where Echostar-17 will get the top position and MSG-3 the lower one inside the fairing. Mating and encapsulation of these two spacecrafts will take place in this dedicated building. Most of the tasks are made by the Ariane space personnel. However, a limited number of MSG-3 team members will have to be present for specific operations.

The purpose of today acceptance was to check in advance that areas to be used by MSG-3 inside the BAF facility are ready and all specifications announced by Arianespace are properly implemented.

MSG-3 team inspected three specific areas: 

• The airlock on the groung floor, i.e. the area where MSG-3 will arrive at BAF

• The two platforms situated on the top of the rocket where MSG-3 will be mated on the launcher: i.e. PFEI and PFES located in the upper part of the BAF

• The COTE room at the bottom of the Launch table where the equipment will be connected on one side with the Spacecraft and on the other to the control room at EPCU S5C  (COTE stands for Check Out Test Equipment)

Just for curiosity, a bird cage was found in a corner close to one of the elevated platforms (at the upper of the tower): what was it used for?

The purpose is very simple: it is a trap. There is in fact always a risk to have birds entering the building between opening and closing of the external doors. This cage, full of food, will just permit to catch them before, trapped inside the fairing, they can get a free ticket to space and/or create some other incidents. For the same reasons, insects are not welcome in this area. Several fly catchers (with UV lamps) were placed around and proved to be rather efficient. For rodents, we did not find any visible counter measures. Do mice simply suffer from vertigo and therefore give up adventuring on the top of the rocket?

Whatever the answer is, the acceptance was concluded fully successful for all other technical aspects. This event was felt by the team as a positive achievement and a good sign for the steps to come.