MSG-4 Launch Campaign: 2015-05-31

06 June 2015

Exhibition in Musée de l' Espace

On 05/06 in Kourou, the Musée de l'Espace located at the entrance of the Centre Spatial Guyanais opened a temporary exhibition to the public called "Les pieds dans l'art" (Feet in art). Many local schools were invited to exhibit works realised during the year by the pupils on this subject. Nothing to do with space but art and engineering are not antagonistic domains and young creative artists may become tomorrow innovative engineers.

We are pleased to offer to the readers of this blog a "florilege" of this colorful exhibition which also gives a flavor of the richness and talents found French Guiana...

"Les pieds dans l'air", Ecole Solange Patient classes CE2 CM1,
exhibited at the entrance of the Musée de l'Espace

"Couleurs pieds" (détail), Ecole maternelle Raymon Cresson

Le paradis des pieds (detail), Ecole élémentaire Roland Lucile

Mes pas en arc-en-ciel, Ecole maternelle Solange Patient

"La famile claquette" ou pieds de nez (detail), Ecole maternelle SABA

"Le Zoo des Godillots', Cours préparatoire et Cours élémentaire 1, Ecole SABA

(C21) MSG-4 transfered to fuelling facility

Friday 05/06 was indeed a busy day. A series of activities took place in the S1B higher bay in order to transfer MSG-4 to the fueling facility (S5B) at the end of the same day.

First, the spacecraft was moved from its usual stand to be mated on its flight adaptor (see C19). This activity permitted to perform a fit check to validate the mechanical compatibility which was completed by the mounting of the clamp band to fix the spacecraft on its adaptor All these mechanical operations require highly skilled personnel as any mistake (mishandling) may have severe consequences.

MSG-4 few seconds before mating on the PAS 16666 adaptor (ThalesAleniaSpace and ArianeSpace teams)

Then, the spacecraft was moved the the CCU-2 (Payload Container). As explained in C20, this equipment is designed to allow the transfer of spacecrafts between the various CSG facilities.

MSG-4 just before its mating into to CCU-2 by the ThalesAleniaSpace team

When the two shells are close, the CCU-2 was loaded on a truck in order to perform the transfer by road. The departure from S1B started around 19:20 local time. A special convoy was organized and, as usual for this kind of activities, the "route de l'Espace" through the CSG was closed to the "normal" traffic.

Exit of the CCU2 loaded with MSG-4 from the S1B airlock

The maximum speed of the truck is fixed at 8km/h to prevent any damage to the spacecraft. The 4,6kms trip took about 45 minutes from gate to gate and the CCU-2 was in front of the S5B airlock at 20:05 (local time). Heavy rain was encountered en route with few far lightnings with no impact on the transport.

MSG-4 transfer convoy arriving at the EPCU S5 gate

At 23:20 (local time), after a very careful cleaning and drying of the shells, the CCU-2 was finally open in the S5B facility. A long day for those who started at 6:30 and this morning. Great Job!

MSG-4 on the CCU-2 adaptor just after the opening of the shells

MSG-4 is now ready for a new phase of the launch campaign: the fuelling.

04 June 2015

(C20) Payload Container gets prepared

A strange object has been introduced in the S1 High Bay. It is called CCU-2 (Container de Charge Utile/Payload Container). It is a container specially designed to transport spacecrafts between the various facilities of the Centre Spatial Guyanais. It will be used twice for MSG-4: the first time to transfer MSG-4 from the S1B to the fueling area (S5B) and the second from the S5B building to the launcher area (BAF) where the spacecraft will be mated on the top of the Ariane 5 launcher.

A view of CCU-2 in S1 B in open position

Memories of the numerous spacecrafts transported by the CCU-2 can be read on the two shells. It is the usual way engineers and technicians say good bye to their "baby" before the spacecraft leaves for being mated and encapsulated on the launcher. They never lack of inspiration and like sometimes to recall in these messages good episodes of the long campaigns. A quick tour today permits to retrieve easily the one dedicated to a well known bird… MSG-3, launched from CSG on 5th of July 2012.

Fragments of "Love letters" on CCU-2 shells

Nothing has been written yet for MSG-4. Anyway there will be a second transport (from S5B to BAF) as explained above and then another chance after the fueling is completed.

Below, in the background of the S1B high bay, MSG-4 is patiently waiting for its transfer on Friday 05/06 on the CCU-2...

A view on MSG-4 trough the CCU-2 open shells

03 June 2015

(C19) Adaptor and Clamp Band Inspection

The Spacecraft launch adaptor was delivered in S1B and a fit check is being prepared. It will take place just before the transfer of MSG-4 to the fuelling area. The purpose is to demonstrate the full mechanical compatibility of the spacecraft with this interface device which in fact belongs the the launcher. Thorough inspections were performed to check integrity and cleanliness of the contact areas of this adaptor with MSG-4.

A ThalesAleniaSpace Quality inspector checking the interface of the flight adaptor

The part inspected below is another essential element called the clamp band. The role of the clamp band is to bind the spacecraft on the rocket adaptor. A dedicated pyro device will release the clamp band at the very end of the launcher mission. At this very moment, the MSG-4 spacecraft will start its own "life" in space.

An ArianeSpace quality responsible inspecting the flight clamp band that will be used for the VA-224

In parallel to this activity, a simulation of the count down procedure is performed today (03/06) with all teams involved on the spacecraft side. In addition to Thales, ESA and EUMETSAT teams which are located in the S1B LBC control rooms, this dry run exercise introduces a new comer, the ESOC team in Darmstadt Germany, responsible for the Spacecraft operations.

Last but not least to be mentioned: A dedicated review called Pre-fulleing Review was successfully held yesterday (02/06) confirming the readiness of the MSG-4 spacecraft for the transfer to the fuelling area in S5B on next Friday (05/06).

01 June 2015

Family pictures (3)

Today (01/06), a family picture with all teams working on MSG-4 a the Centre Spatial Guyanais was organised in the S1B high bay. This is the last opportunity to get together in front of the fully integrated MSG-4 before the next phase of the campaign that will take place in S5B for the fueling. Again, sorry for the few missing ones.