Full steam ahead for Aeolus launch

Having set sail from France on 15 June - Global Wind Day, ESA's Aeolus wind satellite has arrived safe and sound at the launch site in French Guiana. While almost all satellites travel by aircraft, Aeolus' journey was rather different - it travelled all the way across the Atlantic from Saint Nazare, western France to the Port of Cayenne, French Guiana by ship. Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. A 12-day journey was undertaken to avoid potential damage caused by air re-pressurisation during descent had the satellite travelled by air - a quicker but decidedly riskier option. Upon its long-awaited arrival, the team unloaded Aeolus and its support equipment. The containers were then carefully positioned on a truck to be transported to the launch site about 60 km away, where the satellite container was moved into the airlock, to stabilise after its long journey. The satellite was then removed from its container, placed on its integration trolley for testing and connected to its electrical support equipment.