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Plesetsk Space Port: Dry Run for ESA`s SMOS/Proba 2 Launch Under Way. / October 7, 2009 /

Preparations continue at Plesetsk Cosmodrome for the 2 November launch of ESA`s Earth exploring spacecraft SMOS and the technology demonstrator Proba -2 atop a Rockot launcher.

A dry run, or an initial rehearsal, of the launch is currently under way. During a few days of the rehearsal all pre-flight activities and countdown procedure are to be checked.

All the necessary activities to prepare the launch vehicle for the electrical tests at the launch pad without the spacecraft is now completed.

The Rockot Booster Unit ( two first stages of the launcher ) was transported to the launch pad on 01 October and installed there. After that the Upper Composite (Breeze M upper stage/fairing stack) was transported to the launch pad, where it was lifted and installed on the boosters.

The schedule for today includes electrical tests of the Upper Composite (without the satellites).

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