Soyuz Launch Today - from South America

[Eric Mc]

The first ever launch of a Soyuz (R-7) rocket from an overseas launch site should take off today at 10.30 am GMT. It looks like the Spaceflight Now website will be covering events live.

[Eric Mc]

Liftoff in 40 minutes - give or take the odd hold.

[Eric Mc]

Better quality live feed here -

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Galileo_IOV/SEMDRFFURT...

[JonnyFive]

16 minutes to go?

[Eric Mc]

JonnyFive said:

16 minutes to go?

Barring any holds - yes.

[DJRC]

Galileo IOV is being launched. The 2 chaps who signed off a rather major part of it are sat next to me.

At least get the important bit of info in

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Germany.html

[Eric Mc]

Best of luck to everyone.

I know the Galileo project has come in for a bit of stick at times.

[paulrussell]

Just watched the launch on the BBC news channel.

[Eric Mc]

Very cloudy and wet down there today so no possibility of following the rocket after about 20 seconds.

[DJRC]

Woo and indeed hoo.

[JonnyFive]

Yep, as you've said.. Cloudy so couldn't see much anyway

It appears this wasn't built by SSTL, but the GIOVE stuff was built by them?

[Eric Mc]

The satellite is going out a long way. Is it going to be in a geosynchronous orbit?

[Eric Mc]

Radio 4 news just anounced that the rocket was launched from Africa.

[Simpo Two]

R4 has just reported a Soyuz take-off from *Africa*...

Euro version of GPS apparently.

[DJRC]

French Guyana, Kouruz or however you spell it. Our integration team lead out there is a Finnish girl, good lass out on the lash. She was saying they let them stay on and watch the launch from site for once, rather than packing them straight back here.