Launch updates

The GIOVE-A is now in its final orbit, with transmission equipment earth pointing and solar panels sun-pointing as required. As such, the satellite is fully powered and ready to commence operations.

12:20 - The second solar panel is deployed and the power system is operating nominally.

Congratulations to the SSTL, ESA, Starsem and everyone involved for making the mission a success!

9:06 - The satellite GIOVE-A has successfully separated from the Fregat and is communicating with SSTL ground control in Guildford, UK.

This initial step was crucial, validating the successful delivery of the satellite payload for the Galileo project. Good communications at this point are essential to complete the set up of the satellite.

Early communications also validated that the orbit is correct, although this will be known with greater precision in the next two weeks.

Now that the satellite has tested OK, the attitude control and communications teams in the busy mission control room are working to power the satellite. The satellite is launched with fully charged batteries, which are currently being used in combination with a small input from the un-deployed solar panels to power communications, heating and other electronic data processing such as control systems.

The batteries only store power for about 2 hours of operation, during which period the solar panels that will power the satellite must be deployed.

There is still work to be done. First, the satellite will measure its position relative to the sun, then it will find fix its position relative to the earth. Once the position is better known, the attitude control system helps orientate the satellite correctly so that communications equipment is Earth-pointing and the solar panels will be Sun-pointing.

The physical orientation of the satellite is carefully adjusted using wheels and butane thrusters on the satellite. Once the orientation is correct, the attitude control system ensures that the satellite is correctly oriented, slowly rotating as the satellite orbits the earth.

Finally, the solar panels will be deployed. This can only take place once the orientation is correct because the solar panels are very delicate and could be damaged if the satellite was still rotating with any speed. Because the solar panels are delicate, deployment is expected to take 10 – 15 minutes after which point the satellite can recharge its batteries and become fully operational.

11:48 - The first solar panel is successfully deployed!

At 5:18 this morning the tension was building at the University of Surrey as the the UK press, ESA members and Surrey Satellite Technology engineers were provided with a live video transmission of the GIOVE-A launch from Baikonur.

The clocks struck 5:19, igniting cheers from the crowd watching the Soyuz launch vehicle blast off. Cheers, that were mirrored at separate launch conferences in Paris and Moscow.

After the initial celebration, the audience scrutinised the images being beamed into the auditorium for any confirmation of a successful launch.

It was business as usual for the SSTL mission control team, although despite Professor Sir Martin Sweeting's jovial manner there was a shared rush of adrenalin and tension that Sir Martin himself admitted is reassuring. "All we can do is sit back and watch until it is our turn to take over, the Soyuz launch vehicle is the most reliable available but space flight an inherently dangerous business."

Next, the program coverage guided the captive audience to discussions with Starsem, responsible for the launch. The launch had been straightforward, with clear blue sky over Baikonur. Repeat statements of "all parameters nominal reassured all watching that the launch was progressing successfully and the 4 booster rockets used for the initial acceleration were shed 1:58 into the launch.

Next, after 4:13 the Fairing that was used to protect the nose of the rocket through the atmosphere was shed according to plan.

The repeat statements of "all parameters nominal" referring to the pitch, yaw and roll of the launch vehicle continued.

Flying over Russia and Siberia the launch vehicle entered into a ballistic trajectory pending further ignitions to re-orientate the Fregat and GIOVE-A composite into the required intermediate orbits. These intermediary orbits are required to gradually push the satellite into the final orbit required by the GIOVE-A Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element.

A proud Professor Chris Snowden, Vice Chancellor of the University of Surrey commented after the launch, "The award of this contract to SSTL is a classic example of how British industry can compete in a highly competitive international market by cooperating with a leading University.

"In the past, SSTL has benefited greatly from the Symbiotic relationship with the University, now the University in turn benefits from the reputation SSTL has earned through its ability to compete in the fiercely competitive international space technology market. This tandem relationship is the foundation, not just for economically viable higher education, but also for future UK business success."

Finally, the Fregat and satellite will drift slowly into the required orbit and separate. The independent satellite is to be initiated in just under half an hour at 9:01 GMT under the control of SSTL.