20 December 2006
After a launch campaign that started on 15 November, described by CNES’s Project Leader Thien Lam Trong as “uneventful”, COROT is in tip-top form. No anomalies were detected during a full series of tests on the satellite.
Checks had to be run last week for a suspected fuel leak in the launcher’s Fregat upper stage, but this proved a false alarm triggered by a ground system malfunction.
COROT safe inside its cocoon
In the days ahead, COROT will be encapsulated under its protective fairing. Once this upper composite is ready, assembly of the Soyuz launcher’s stages can begin.
After that, the Soyuz will be towed out to the launch pad still lying flat by a giant tractor, and then erected into position just 3 days before lift-off.
After that, the Soyuz will be towed out to the launch pad still lying flat by a giant tractor, and then erected into position just 3 days before lift-off.
1 day lost, 4 minutes gained
It will then be time for final checks, concentrating mainly on radio links.
