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| Gravity satellite heads skyward | Gravity satellite heads skyward |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The European Space Agency has just launched its gravity mapping satellite, Goce - after a day's delay. | The European Space Agency has just launched its gravity mapping satellite, Goce - after a day's delay. |
| It left Earth at 1421GMT on a modified intercontinental ballistic missile from north-west Russia. | It left Earth at 1421GMT on a modified intercontinental ballistic missile from north-west Russia. |
| The flight will not be declared a success until Goce separates from its rocket about 90 minutes after lift-off. | The flight will not be declared a success until Goce separates from its rocket about 90 minutes after lift-off. |
| The mission will give scientists new insights into how the interior of the planet is structured and provide key information on how the oceans move. | The mission will give scientists new insights into how the interior of the planet is structured and provide key information on how the oceans move. |
| Goce is heading for an initial altitude of about 280km on a trajectory that will circle the Earth from pole to pole. | Goce is heading for an initial altitude of about 280km on a trajectory that will circle the Earth from pole to pole. |
| The spacecraft should have launched on Monday but was held on the ground when an electrical glitch prevented the service tower from moving away from the rocket in its launch tube to allow a lift-off. | |
| The satellite is the first in a series of seven spacecraft that will address key issues of environmental concern. | The satellite is the first in a series of seven spacecraft that will address key issues of environmental concern. |
| Goce data will have many applications but perhaps the biggest knowledge gains will come in the study of ocean behaviour. | Goce data will have many applications but perhaps the biggest knowledge gains will come in the study of ocean behaviour. |
| By combining gravity data with information about sea-surface height gathered by other spacecraft, scientists will be able to track the direction and speed of ocean currents. | By combining gravity data with information about sea-surface height gathered by other spacecraft, scientists will be able to track the direction and speed of ocean currents. |
| Understanding better how the seas move heat around the planet will help improve the computer models that are used to forecast global climate change. | Understanding better how the seas move heat around the planet will help improve the computer models that are used to forecast global climate change. |
| Although Goce has been launched from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome, officials from Esa are following the ascent to orbit at the agency's Earth observation HQ here in Frascati, Italy. | Although Goce has been launched from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome, officials from Esa are following the ascent to orbit at the agency's Earth observation HQ here in Frascati, Italy. |
| GRAVITY FIELD AND STEADY-STATE OCEAN CIRCULATION EXPLORER 1. The 1,100kg Goce is built from rigid materials and carries fixed solar wings. The gravity data must be clear of spacecraft 'noise'2. Solar cells produce 1,300W and cover the Sun-facing side of Goce; the near side (as shown) radiates heat to keep it cool3. The 5m-by-1m frame incorporates fins to stabilise the spacecraft as it flies through the residual air in the thermosphere4. Goce's accelerometers measure accelerations that are as small as 1 part in 10,000,000,000,000 of the gravity experienced on Earth5. The UK-built engine ejects xenon ions at velocities exceeding 40,000m/s; Goce's mission will end when the 40kg fuel tank empties6. S Band antenna: Data downloads to the Kiruna (Sweden) ground station. Processing, archiving is done at Esa's centre in Frascati, Italy7. GPS antennas: Precise positioning of Goce is required, but GPS data in itself can also provide some gravity field information | GRAVITY FIELD AND STEADY-STATE OCEAN CIRCULATION EXPLORER 1. The 1,100kg Goce is built from rigid materials and carries fixed solar wings. The gravity data must be clear of spacecraft 'noise'2. Solar cells produce 1,300W and cover the Sun-facing side of Goce; the near side (as shown) radiates heat to keep it cool3. The 5m-by-1m frame incorporates fins to stabilise the spacecraft as it flies through the residual air in the thermosphere4. Goce's accelerometers measure accelerations that are as small as 1 part in 10,000,000,000,000 of the gravity experienced on Earth5. The UK-built engine ejects xenon ions at velocities exceeding 40,000m/s; Goce's mission will end when the 40kg fuel tank empties6. S Band antenna: Data downloads to the Kiruna (Sweden) ground station. Processing, archiving is done at Esa's centre in Frascati, Italy7. GPS antennas: Precise positioning of Goce is required, but GPS data in itself can also provide some gravity field information |
| Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk |