November 16, 2007

Radarsat-2 launch campaign starts at Baikonur Cosmodrome

Courtesy of: Starsem, Nov. 16, 2007

The Radarsat-2 launch campaign has started in Baikonur with the arrival at the cosmodrome of the spacecraft and associated equipment onboard a cargo plane November 15, 2007. The unloading operations from the airplane and loading onto the train have been successfully performed, and the spacecraft was transferred to the site 112.

The Starsem and MDA teams, with the participation of the CSA, have been deployed in Baikonur, in order to receive the spacecraft and start the activities in accordance with the Launch Campaign Master Schedule.

The Cosmodrome Readiness Review (CRR) has confirmed the Baikonur facilities readiness to support all planned activities and approved Starsem's and Customer's organization within the framework of the launch campaign, as well as the operational documentation.

This upcoming mission will mark the 20th Soyuz flight performed under Starsem's responsibility, and will launch Canada's next-generation commercial radar satellite dedicated to marine surveillance, ice monitoring, disaster management, environmental monitoring, resource management and mapping in Canada and around the world.

The launch of Radarsat-2 is scheduled for December 14, 2007, at 19:17 (local Baikonur time), 14:17 (Paris time).