What's happening on the ground?
SSTL's GIOVE-A satellite has been carefully loaded into the Soyuz launch vehicle in Baikonur, Kazakhstan where the rocket remains horizontal pending final preparations for erection and launch.
These final preparations include the application of silver and gold coated plastic / foil thermal blankets to the satellite to protect it from the extreme variation of temperatures experienced in space. In orbit, the side facing the sun will become very hot whilst the opposite side could be extremely cold.
The satellite has also been fueled with butane gas, the precise amount required was calibrated by boiling off unwanted butane over the weekend. The fuel is not actually burned, but released under pressure to make precise adjustments to the micro-satellite’s position in space.
The distinctive cone, named a "fairing" which will deflect air from the front of the rocket during the launch was fitted this morning.
Today, ground stations all around the world are being checked and their receiving antennae adjusted in preparation for the launch.
The launch date is being decided today, at which point an update will provided by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Perhaps you are getting GPS this Christmas, or perhaps you are have a unit already. They are certainly selling like hot cakes. You may be interested to know that at the end of this month (date unconfirmed - see space.ballard.co.uk) the first test of t
Tracked: Dec 20, 07:55