Space

Swarm satellite launch marks start of four-year mission

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The Swarm satellites being prepared for launch (Photo: ESA)
The Swarm constellation packed for launch (Photo: ESA)
Swarm launch (Photo: ESA)
Swarm lifting off from Plesetsk space port (Photo: ESA)
Launch control in Russia (Photo: ESA)
The launch took months of rehearsal (Photo: ESA)
Swarm packed for launch (Photo: ESA)
Swarm being installed on its launcher (Photo: ESA)
Ground crew carrying out launch test (Photo: ESA)
Swarm atop Rockot launcher (Photo: ESA)
Swarm being raised into launch position (Photo: ESA)
Swarm being readied to be raised to launcher (Photo: ESA)
Swarm being moved to the launch pad (Photo: ESA)
Swarm arriving (Photo: ESA)
Swarm packed for movement to the launch pad (Photo: ESA)
The Swarm satellites being prepared for launch (Photo: ESA)
View gallery - 15 images

On Friday, the European Space Agency (ESA) began a four-year mission to study the Earth’s magnetic field with the launch of the three-satellite Swarm constellation into Earth orbit. Packed “like sardines” in their fairing, the unmanned spacecraft lifted off at 12:02 GMT (1:02 PM CET) from the Plesetsk space port in northern Russia atop a Rockot launcher.

About 91 minutes after launch, which ESA says went off without incident, the three satellites automatically separated from the Breeze-KM upper stage and went into a near-polar circular orbit at an altitude of 490 km (300 mi). Two minutes after that, contact was made with the constellation as it flew over Kiruna station in Sweden and Svalbard station in Norway. Control of the satellites was switched to the European Space Operation Centre in Darmstadt, Germany and a few hours later the Swarm satellites deployed their instrument booms.

“Swarm is about to fill a gap in our view of the Earth system and in our monitoring of global change issues,” said Volker Liebig, ESA’s director for Earth observation. “It will help us to better understand the field that protects us from the particles and radiation coming from the Sun.”

Swarm lifting off from Plesetsk space port (Photo: ESA)

According to ESA, the three satellites will go through a three-month commissioning as mission control tests their systems and scientific payloads. If they pass successfully, two of the constellation will fly in formation about 150 km (93 mi) apart and lower their orbit to 460 km (285 mi). Meanwhile, the third will move into a higher orbit of 530 km (330 mi). Together, they will take precise measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field.

Following the CryoSat, GOCE and SMOS satellites, Swarm is the fourth of ESA’s Earth Explorer missions, which are intended to help improve the understanding of our planet by focusing on the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and Earth's interior.

Scientists hope that the measurements of the magnetic field taken by the Swarm constellation will not only help them to produce better models of the field, but also improve terrestrial navigation and weather forecasting, aid in prospecting for mineral resources, reveal more about the Earth's interior structure and provide better warnings of dangerous solar storms.

The video below shows Swarm’s liftoff.

Source: ESA

View gallery - 15 images
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2 comments
Chizzy
I live on the coast of Washington State, USA, far from lights and regularly watch polar orbiting satellites pass overhead at night, visually how close will these be to each other from sea level? Will I be able to detect them visually as 2 separate craft, or will they show up as a brighter single point? My best visual time is during summer and autumn, at about 10pm to midnight local pdt time. It's plenty dark enough, but the satellites remain sunlit. I can see one about every 6 to 20 minutes, usually heading north to south.
Stuart Saunders
Yes Chizzy - when they come they will be approx 20˚ apart.
"http://www.heavens-above.com" should have the good oil for you.