Post Scriptum

We have now received the MSG-3 first image. This is an evident proof that, after the successful launch on 05/07/2012,  the MSG-3 spacecraft is working very well and the LEOP and commissioning phases have been properly carried out. This is a reward for the all teams and staff that have been involved and which worked on this project for years now.

Just below, for memory, we offer the readers of this blog the first image taken by MSG-1 (METEOSAT-8) and MSG-2 (METEOSAT-9) respectively obtained in 2002 and 2006.

Long life to MSG-3 in orbit!

1-MSG-3 first image on 07/08/2012
Launch from Kourou 05/07/2012

Credits ESA/EUMETSAT

2-MSG-2 first image on 25/01/2006
Launch from Kourou 21/12/2005

Credits: ESA/EUMETSAT

3-MSG-1 first image on 11/12/2002
Launch from Kourou on 28/08/2002

Credits: ESA/EUMETSAT

Epilogue

Dear all,

Today 08/07/2012, some team members have started to pack their respective gears and equipment at EPCU S5 while some others are starting their trip back to Europe.

As the MSG-3 launch campaign, performed during this spring 2012 is now progressively coming to an end, it is time to leave Kourou and say good bye to each of you. It has been a great pleasure to share these exciting moments together.

For a little bit more than three months, more than 90 posts have been published (almost in real time) and illustrated by about 650 pictures. The goal was to keep the link with people not in Kourou and to tell them what was going on here at CSG (...it seems that even people in Kourou came regularly to visit these pages... :-). In parallel of the campaign reporting, we tried also to report few aspects of this unique and still very unknown place called French Guiana.  Considering the positive feed back we received as well as the number of connections, the outcome has definitely exceeded our expectations. After the campaign, we may consider to collect these pages on a CD or a DVD together with some other Launch Campaign material.

It is impossible to conclude this last message without emphasizing the outstanding performance of the THALES team (the Prime Contractor of the MSG programme): the talent and dedication of each individual in all disciplines has made this success possible. Congratulations!

Now, what is better than looking through a window to guess what the future will be?

Here above you can see a rare (or let's say unusual) picture taken in the THALES clean room at Cannes in December 2011. At that time the MSG-3 solar panels were put on a jig to enable an exhaustive solar cell inspection. One can see on this picture that through the large SEVIRI "hole" it is not  Earth (as it should be seen from space) but the 4th Model of the MSG series, i.e. MSG-4 spacecraft...

Through this "window" we can contemplate our future, i.e. the job waiting for us for the next two years: complete integration, testing and getting MSG-4 ready for a launch early 2015 (TBC) in order to take over MSG-2 which will become 10 years old at that time.

But back to recent events, roughly 48 hours after the launch, last news from the MSG-3 LEOP team are good: there are still few important milestones to be completed in the next 10 days but the first critical steps have been successfully completed. Our "baby" is in good health and doing well. Click here for a LEOP status update.

Before to leave you, thanks again for your interest and your friendly support.

From French Guiana with love!

Kirill Blogovitch

08/07/2012

What will happen to MSG-3 in the next days after launch?

After the launch, a new phase called LEOP will start. LEOP stands for Launch Early Operation Phase. This phase will aim to put MSG-3 in its final configuration and orbit where it will be ready to perform its mission. It will last about 10 days will end with the MSG-3 handover to EUMETSAT (the operator of the spacecraft). LEOP will be continued by the commissioning phase.
Just after launch, some of our Thales colleagues from Kourou and Cannes will join now very rapidly ESOC in Darmstadt, the European Space Operation Center, where these LEOP activities will be performed together with ESA and EUMETSAT.

The next LEOP milestones are summarized below:

(Real status in RED, according to info from the LEOP team)

•  Launch 05/07/2012 18:36 (Kourou) 23:36 (CET)
• Launch T+ 34 minutes: MSG-3 separation from the launcher (Malindi tracking station acquisition); Successfully performed
• T+ 4 hours, 1st spin up (55rpm): Successfully performed
• T+37 hours, First Apogee Engine firing by LAM: Successfully performed
• T+62 hours, Second Apogee Engine firing by LAM: Successfully performed
• T+ 111 hours, third Apogee Engine firing by LAM: Successfully performed
• T+134 hours, fourth Apogee Engine firing by LAM: Successfully performed
• T+ 6 days and ca 8,5 hours, Spin axis erection* (1st part): Successfully performed
• T+ 6 days and ca 14 hours, Spin axis erection* (2nd part): Successfully performed
• T+ 8 days and 6 hours, (13/07/2012 @ 06:06 am CET), Cover cooler and SEVIRI baffle cover release: Successfully performed
• T+ 8 days and 9 hours, (13/07/2012 @ 09:06 am CET), Spin up to 99.8 rpm: Successfully performed
• T+ 8 days and 9,5 hours (13/07/2012 @ 9:36 am CET) Start of SEVIRI operations...: Successfully performed
•  SEVIRI scan mechanism released, mirror moved from its launch position to a position in the the operational range: Successfully performed
• T+ 9 days and 22 hours, Circularisation maneuver: Successfully performed
• T+10 days and 9,5 hours (16/07/2012 @ 9:30am CET) Start of ESOC to EUMETSAT handover and end of the LEOP**: Successfully performed

*Up to that stage, the vertical axis of the spacecraft  (or spin axis) is within the orbital plane. The goal of the spin axis erection is to get it perpendicular to the orbital plane in order that the SEVIRI can "look" at Earth.
** For more information about the end of the LEOP phase, click here.

Few pictures of the launch

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4-

5-

6-

7-

8-

 9-

10- Boosters separation

All pictures: Credits: Shaf

Launch Day 05/07/2012

Follow MSG-3 launch live on ESA, Eumetsat or Arianespace websites.

07:15 am @ EPCU S5C North (Kourou time).  D - Day has started.
Let's start this message with an Arianespace picture taken yesterday (04/07/2012): the Launch vehicle on the ELA-3 Launch pad

Credits: Arianespace

09:36 am (L-9 hours) All Thales people in place at LBC-1. Countdown started. Spacecraft ON
An overall view of the LBC

A nice view on the launcher from the water tower (TV monitor in LBC-1)

11:24 am (L-7h 12mn). LBC-1 to Jupiter: MSG-3 status nominal
In the meantime, our mascot, Toco, joined the LBC-1...

12:26 (L-6h 10min). MSG-3 RF (Radio Frequency) Transmitter ON. On the background below the "RF corner" with Jean-Paul and Patrick (on the right). On the foreground all the Telemetry monitoring screens

13:25 (L-5h 11nin) All parameters are green. Few minutes later, 2 weather forecast reports: High winds and general weather forecast briefing. Green. Authorisation to fuel the Launch vehicle has been given.

14:21 (L-4h 15 min). MSG-3 started battery charging.
14:28 (L-4h 08 min). EPC (Etage de Propulsion Cryogénique/Cryogenic Propulsion Stage) fuelling started
15:08 (L-3h 28 min) ESC (Etage Supérieur Cryogénique/Upper Cryogenic stage) fuelling
15:31 (L-3h 05 min ) MSG-3  reported parameters from LBC-1 to Jupiter are green

16:36 (L-2h 00 min) MSG-3 spacecraft status is green. Here under, a snapshot of the Launch vehicle from the TV monitor in LBC-1. Weather looks fine.

17:11 (L-1h 25mn) : Jean Claude giving the Spacecraft status to CPS (Chef de Projet Satellite/Head of Satellite Project) in Jupiter: MSG-3 status Green

ca 17:15 "Ratissage" at EPCU i.e. All unauthorised personnel is kindly asked to leave the EPCU S5 for safety reasons.
Hugues our RMCU (Responsble Moyen Charge Utile/Payload Responsible) at EPCU during the campaign is carefully checking the list of names.

17:36 (L-1 hour). MSG-3 status is green. All other launch parameters are green. The clock below gives the UT (Universal Time) and the exact L -1 hour of the chronology...

18:16 (L-20 min) MSG-3 has been turned to internal power.
18:25 (L-11 min), RPS confirms to CPS Jupiter that MSG-3 status is green.
18:29 (L-7 minutes) start of the synchronised sequence of the launcher.
18:36 Lift-off
VA 207 pass over the EPCU

L+34 minutes MSG-3 separated from the launcher: Mission is declared successful!
It is time to celebrate this outstanding team work. This campaign was a great human and technical experience and all will certainly create long life memories.
Here below the LBC-1 team.

Now all will join the party with the the rest of the team in Jupiter and all other guests of the Arianespace party :-)

Getting prepared...

After so many efforts,  tomorrow will be "le grand soir" for MSG-3! So let's now get prepared.
Part of the MSG-3 team will be in LBC-1 room at EPCU S5 North in CSG. This LBC room, already introduced to the reader of this blog, contains all the EGSE (equipment bays) that are connected with the spacecraft. From there, all parameters related to the MSG-3 spacecraft are monitored and will be transmitted as needed to the Jupiter room (Control center) tomorrow during the count down.

Here above is an overall view of the LBC-1 rather empty this after noon. Below, Jean-Claude is testing a voice loop equipment to make sure that the communications with Jupiter work well. So no surprise tomorrow. During the countdown, he will act as RPS i.e. Resposable Préparation Satellite/Spacecraft Preparation Responsible.

Two monitor screens have been set in order that what is happening on the launch pad can be seen from LBC-1 . Tomorrow, a view of the Jupiter control room will also be available.

Everything looks fine. The last thing to think about is the dress code for tomorrow. Given instructions require white shirts for all. So the MSG-3 team members have still few hours to iron their launch crew gear in order to remove any unpleasant wrinkles or to pick up their laundry before 19:30 tonight at Georgette's laundry.

Finally, for those not in French Guiana, and interested to follow the launch, click here to reach the ESA web site which will broadcast the live video transmission of the VA 207 launch.
Eumetsat is also covering the launch from their website (click here).

MSG-3 on launch pad

1-On 03/07/2102 the VA 207 roll out started with roughly 1 hour and half delay due to the presence of some heavy clouds in the area of the transfer.
The distance between BAF and ELA-3 (Launch pad) is about 3 kilometers and the maximum speed of the convoy is 3 km/h.

2-The roll out was observed from the roof of the Galilee building. On the foreground the BIL (Batiment Intégration Lanceur/Launcher Integration Building) and just behind the BAF which is now familiar to the reader of the blog :-)

3-Roll out eventually started at 11:50 am (Kourou time). Here below VA 207 launcher between BIL and BAF.

4-Convoy crossing the main CSG road which had been closed to other traffic.

5- VA 207 convoy through the forest.

6-...getting closer to the ELA-3 launch pad.

7- Preparing for the last curve.

8- 13:25. VA 207 has almost reached the launch pad.

View again VA 206 roll out (taken within another angle of view at orchidée observation point).

Que le spectacle commence!

This morning, 03/7/2012 at 7:00 am  the doors of the BAF have been opened.

a close up view:

VA 207 is ready for the roll out to ELA-3 (Aire de Lancement#3 /Launch Pad#3)... if weather allows. The requirement is to have three hours free of thunderstorms to prevent the risk of lightening during the transfer (BAF to ELA-3).

Launch campaign status at L-3

No "visible" activities to report today as efforts concentrated on the launcher in the BAF and on the final preparation of the fairing (thermal and environmental controls, several inspections, red tag items, arming, closure...). These activities are exclusively under Arianespace responsibility without witnessing from the customer(s) side.
In the next days:

• L-2 (03/07/2012) will be mainly dedicated to the RAL (Revue d'Aptitude au Lancement/Launch Readiness Review). An important review mainly focussed on the Ariane 5 ECA launcher.
• L-1 (04/07/2012): Roll out of the launcher between the BAF and the ELA-3 (launch pad). This will terminate the quasi "secret phase" of the POC (Combined Operation Plan). This activity was already witnessed in May for the roll out of VA206 flight.
• L0 (05/07/2012). Launch day. The countdown will start at 9:36 am (Kourou time) for a launch window starting 9 hours later.

Below, a picture of the CSG sky when we got out of our last meeting today 02/07/2012, looking in the direction of the ELA-3 launch pad. It gives a rough idea about the light we may have for the launch as it was exatly taken at the time corresponding to our launch window on next Thursday i.e. from 18:36 to 19:05 Kourou time or 23:36 to 00:05 Paris/Asterdam/Darmstadt time zone...

We are getting closer!

Dress Rehearsal

The Dress Reheasal is an overall rehearsal of the countdown as it will take place at L-0 (Launch day). It starts 9 hours before the launch. The virtual launch today was planned at 14:00 Kourou time. Then, the dress rehearsal started today at 5:00 am. An early wake up for some of the team members to make the first connection with ESOC (Germany).
There are many centres involved in the coundown rehearsal as showed by the list below:
In CSG (French Guiana):

• Jupiter II (Control Center)
• LBC-1 (The place where all the MSG-3 data are monitored)
• CDL-3 (Centre de Lancement-3/Launch Center)
• Meteo/Weather forecast station

 In Darmstadt (Germany):

• ESOC
• EUMETSAT

...and all stations (under ESOC control) required to track the spacecraft trajectory after orbit injection:

• Malindi or Melinde (Kenya)
• Perth (Australia)
• Maspalomas (Spain)
• Kourou (French Guiana)

Here below a picture at the LBC-1 @ 07:26 am (29/06/2012)

An overall external view of the Jupiter building

General overview inside the control room inside Jupiter

A close up on the "MSG-3 corner"

On the foreground from left to right: Francois (ESA), Jean-Claude, Christian (EUMETSAT)
On the background: Stéfane (ESA), Denis (Thales), and Béatrice (Arianespace)
Then, back to LBC-1...
At 16:48 , Kourour time, i.e.12 minutes before lift-off! all lights are "green" in the LBC-1.

00:00.00 : launch time. Fortunately nothing happened today :-)
However, the simulation carries on with the mission of the launcher till the separation of MSG-3 and Echostar-17 spacecrafts from the launcher. This lasts about 30 minutes. Done.
Another usefull and succesfull day.

Fairing got labelled

On 28/06/2012, while the secret story related to launcher preparation was continuing in BAF :-), activities performed on the payload remained limited to RF (Radio Frequency) testing. The purpose was to check the communication link with MSG-3 encapsulated on the launcher. The montoring was done from the LBC-1 at the EPCU S5, the room where stands all the equipment bays (EGSE). After few adjustements of the test set up in the BAF, the correct levels were obtained.
On the same day, one could also noticed a more visible activity in the BAF: the installation of the paylod stickers onto the fairing.
Echostar XVII in upper position

and MSG-3 just below.

VA 207 launcher got (almost) labelled!
Tomorrow 29/06/2012 (Launch -4 working days) a significant activity will take place: The Dress Rehearsal, i.e. the rehearsal of the launch countdown. Some of the team will have to wake up very early as the connection between CSG and  ESOC, the European space Operations Centre located in Darmstadt, Germany, will be made around 05:00 am (Kourou time)...