Cheers to a successful launch!
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.
