KSAT successfully supports the launch of TanDEM-X from its pole-to-pole set of station in Antarctica and in Svalbard Arctic

KSAT plays a key role in the launch of TanDEM-X. Germany's second Earth observation satellite, TanDEM-X, was launched successfully on 21 June 2010 at 04:14 Central European Summer Time (CEST, at 08:14 local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Atop a Russian Dnepr rocket, the satellite, weighing more than 1.3 tons and five metres in length, started its journey into orbit. At 4.45 CEST first signal was received via Troll ground station in the Antarctic.

The Launch and Early Operations (LEOP) campaign was a 100% success, and nominal operation will now commence. KSAT is routinely supporting launches like this and in March 2010, more than 9100 satellite contacts were made from KSATs satellite tracking sites around the globe.

The DLR web page has more here

21.06.2010