ESA TV coverage of the COROT launch / 27 December 2006

The Soyouz-2 launcher which will put the European satellite COROT in orbit, was transferred to its launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazachstan, on Sunday 24 December.

The launch is scheduled for Wednesday 27 December 2006 at 14:23 GMT.

ESA will provide COROT launch coverage, together with the French Space Agency CNES and Arianespace, the launch provider, as follows:

14:00-14:10 GMT Pre-launch B-roll: images of Soyuz roll-out, images of the spacecraft, 3-D animations of the COROT mission, pre-launch soundbites (French, English) by officials Annie Baglin and Malcolm Fridlund, recorded on 27 December

14:20-14:25 GMT Clean feed of the Soyuz night-launch from Baikonur – international sound, no commentary

15:00-15:15 GMT Post-lift off B-roll: Images of the lift-off and Soyuz flight/telemetry, plus replay of the pre-launch B-roll

17:00-17:10 GMT Post-separation B-roll: Statements by officials from CNES, Arianespace and ESA on the outcome of the launch, launch replay.

More backgroud information can be found on: www.esa.int/SPECIALS/COROT

Satellite parameters – please note that this carrier remains from 14:00 to 17:30 GMT:

Eutelsat W2 at 16 degrees east, Transponder F5, horizontal, (SCPC, 4:2:0) F=12717.4 MHz SR=6.1113 MS/sec, FEC=3/4

For further information and a daily update of the transmission schedule, visit our website at http://television.esa.int. For all enquires, contact Claus Habfast, Tel +31 71 565 3838, Fax +31 71 565 6340, e-mail claus.habfast@esa.int.

With kind regards,

ESA TV Service