GOCE timeline for 16 March 2009
Timeline of the most significant events during countdown, launch and the early orbit phase for GOCE. Liftoff is scheduled for 15:21 CET on Monday, 16 March 2009, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.
All times subject to change
Abbreviations
CET: Central European Time
MT: Moscow time
MCC-P: Mission Control Centre - Plesetsk
OCC: ESOC Operations Control Centre
L-Xh: X-hours before launch time
AOS: Acquisition of signal
| CET | MT | Event | Elapsed time |
| 09:21 | 11:21 | State Commission approves initiation of countdown | L-6h |
| -- | -- | Activation of launcher gyro motor heating | L-3h |
| 14:41 | 16:41 | ESOC Operations Control Centre reports readiness to MCC; ESA Project Manager confirms Agency ready to go, GO/NOGO switch set at MCC-Plesetsk | L-40 min |
| 14:51 | 16:51 | Start of automatic sequence for launcher | L-30 min |
| 15:17 | 17:17 | End Mobile Service Tower removal | -- |
| 15:18 | 17:18 | Latest launch abort possible by spacecraft (start of irreversible launch process) | L-3 min |
| 15:21:03 | 17:21:03 | Mission start time - End of gyro setting | 00:00:00 |
| 15:21:14 | 17:21:14 | Main engine ignition | 00:00:11 |
| 15:21:17 | 17:21:17 | Liftoff contact (LOC) | 00:00:14 |
| 15:23:19 | 17:23:19 | Separation 1st/2nd stage | 00:02:16 |
| 15:24:07 | 17:24:07 | Jettison of payload fairing | 00:03:04 |
| 15:24:22 | 17:24:22 | First possible acquisition of signal via Svalbard station (nominal even if no receipt) | -- |
| 15:26:01 | 17:26:01 | 2nd stage cut-off | 00:04:58 |
| 15:26:22 | 17:26:12 | Separation 2nd/3rd stage | 00:05:19 |
| 15:26:28 | 17:26:28 | First ignition of Breeze Upper Stage | 00:05:25 |
| 15:28:23 | 17:28:23 | Loss of radio visibility | 00:07:20 |
| 15:35:35 | 17:35:35 | End of first burn of Breeze Upper Stage | 00:14:32 |
| -- | -- | Coasting | -- |
| 16:39:27 | 18:39:27 | Second ignition of Breeze Upper Stage | 01:18:24 |
| 16:39:40 | 18:39:40 | Breeze cut-off | 01:18:37 |
| 16:50:43 | 18:50:43 | Enter of radio visibility zone (Shelkovo GS) | -- |
| 16:51:35 | 18:51:35 | GOCE separation command, issued by the on-board Upper Stage control system | 01:29:40 |
| 16:51:57 | 18:51:57 | GOCE acquisition of signal (AOS) via ESTRACK Kiruna station | 01:30:32 |
| 16:53:00 | 18:53:00 | Confirmation of separation by ESOC OCC (time approximate) | -- |
