Despite disruption, mission control is prepared for EarthCARE.

ESA’s European Space Operations Centre in Germany is currently preparing for the launch of the EarthCARE satellite. The preparations involve a simulations campaign that helps train the flight control team and support teams from various departments to work cohesively. The simulations include injecting faults into the ground segment to test the team’s reactions to unexpected situations such as a team member falling ill or communication with the spacecraft being interrupted. The simulations also include collaboration with partners like JAXA, who developed EarthCARE’s Cloud Profiling Radar.

Effective communication especially important on launch day, and the ESA teams must seamlessly work with their partners. A delegation of JAXA engineers joined the ESA team during the simulations campaign to provide real-time support for their instrument. The teams also rehearsed problem-solving steps in case of any issues during the deployment of the radar’s reflector dish.

However, there was an unexpected disruption in the simulations when authorities in Darmstadt, Germany discovered a potentially unexploded bomb near the engineering worksite. This required the evacuation of the control center, leading to the cancellation of the day’s EarthCARE simulations. Thankfully, it turned out not to be a bomb, and the team was able to resume operations the next day.

Now in the most demanding phase of their preparations, the Simulation Officers are raising the stakes to almost losing the spacecraft during simulations. After that, the simulations will return to more mild anomalies before a trouble-free dress rehearsal on May 17. By that time, the team will be fully prepared to guide EarthCARE through its first days in orbit and fulfill its mission of studying clouds and aerosols’ role in Earth’s changing climate.

To stay updated on EarthCARE’s launch, follow @esaoperations and @esa_eo on X and esa_earth on Instagram. Additionally, experience the tension at ESA mission control by watching their short film titled “The Burn.”

Overall, the EarthCARE team at ESA is diligently preparing for their satellite’s launch, ensuring they’re ready to address any challenges that may come their way. Their commitment to thorough simulations and collaboration with partners highlights their dedication to a successful mission.