Following the first switch ON, the integrity of the satellite after transport is checked through functional tests, involving all equipment on board. To insure redundancy, all units are duplicated. The nominal is called A and the redundant B. The tests are split in 2 parts by functional chain: A side on the first day – that was on Saturday 27 July and successful – B side on the second day – that was on Monday 29 July with the same outcome – and in between A and B sides there was…

On Sunday, everyone made the most of THE rest day of the week. Beach, swimming pool, Monkey mountain hiking, canoeing on the Kourou river, all of it for the most courageous, or simply a relaxing day for others, in any case the break was very much appreciated by all!

On Monday, next to the satellite B side functional tests, the launch vehicle adapter (interface between the satellite and the rocket) was set-up in the clean room for electrical verification before the fit-check foreseen on Tuesday. More safety trainings took place, the opportunity was given to ESA team to visit the satellite in the clean room and a first group could attend a visit of the launch base that took them through the Vega and the very impressive Ariane6 facilities.