YES2 mission control preparing...

 

What have we done here in Moscow the last few days?

• We are been analyzing the attitude data from RedShift/Dimac to update thermal predictions to determine the best moment for YES2 power on.
• We prepared the off-nominal case scenario's, so we know better what to do when some surprise occurs during the mission. Basically, before ejection, we can switch YES2 off, but after ejection it is better to wait.
• Yesterday Marco prepared, as a final test, the mission timeline, based on the Foton orbital data, in a race against the clock. Monday, at 11:45 CET, we will get the final Foton orbital data, and by 13:45 we have to have calculated the YES2 mission timeline, as it will then be uploaded to Foton to be performed Tuesday morning. Timeline Tuesday 25th of September, time in CET:

4:00 AM - Switch On YES2

6:00 AM - Confirmation of YES2 health

6:47 AM - Ejection! Start of tether deployment

7:30 AM - Confirmation of successful ejection 

9:00 AM - Confirmation of successful completion of First Stage (3.5 km)

10:00 AM - Landing of Fotino in Kazakhstan

10:30 AM - Confirmation of successful deployment

14:00 PM - Confirmation of landing via ARGOS