Testing Upper Composite - Third Stage Electrical Connections
20 October 2005
Today, Thursday 20 October 2005, there were no on-line activities performed on the Venus Express Spacecraft. The day was spent by performing electrical verifications between the launcher's third stage and the upper composite which has been mechanically mated yesterday.Spacecraft activities were, as yesterday, limited to monitoring fuel and oxidiser tank pressures and under-fairing temperatures.
Final adjustments have been made to countdown procedures in close cooperation with the Russian launch authorities on one side and the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) on the other side. All procedures and test sequences required for the activities taking place once the launcher is installed on the pad, and especially for the final countdown on 26 October, are now available.
Tomorrow, Friday 21 October 2005, will be a very active and long day, with the launcher final integration, followed by flight arming of the spacecraft on-board batteries, and eventually the Russian State Commission to authorise launcher roll-out to the pad.