We are now occupying all the facilities allocated to Sentinel-2C satellite preparation in the launch base.

The PPF (Payload Preparation Facility) is the S1A building. This is where we have our offices, the LBC (check-out equipment room) from where we command/control the satellite and the clean room where the satellite autonomous activities are carried out since the start of the launch campaign. The main focus on Tuesday has been the final mechanical and thermal preparation of the satellite, the management of Red and Green tagged items (Red to remove before flight, Green to install before flight), the final inspection and cleaning to get as close as possible to the flight configuration before the fueling.

On Wednesday, only 2 days after their arrival, the team from Arianegroup Lampoldshausen started the propulsion subsystem tests under 24,6 bars (MEOP – Maximum Expected Operational Pressure) to verify the absence of leakage, as prerequisite to the fueling. These tests will last 3 days.

During that time, the other part of LAM team was in HPF (Hazardous Preparation Facility), in S3B building, 13 km away from the S1A, setting up their ground support equipment for the fueling.

In parallel, over Tuesday and Wednesday, ADS functional team was at the Vega launch pad, 15 km away from the S1A, split between the COTE room – in the basement – and platform level 9 of the mobile gantry – some 40 meters higher- to validate end-to-end the umbilical links.

All was found as expected!

Even Jupiter2, the CSG launch control center where the final chronology will be executed, has started its configuration for Sentinel-2C launch.