![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2017\/02\/green_for_sentinel-2\/16805579-1-eng-GB\/Green_for_Sentinel-2_small.jpg\")
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\nOn Monday this week, 30 days before the scheduled launch of Sentinel-2B, flight director Pier Paolo Emanuelli reported that the \u2018ground segment<\/a>\u2019 \u2013 the hardware, systems and networks used on Earth to control the satellite in orbit \u2013 is \u2018green\u2019 for launch.\n<\/p>\n \nLiftoff is scheduled for 7 March at 01:49 GMT on a Vega rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. The mission control team at ESA\u2019s mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, will take over control of Sentinel-2B about 58 minutes later.\n<\/p>\n \nIn Darmstadt, final prelaunch activities<\/a>, including simulation training and readiness tests, are in high gear as the centre counts down to Europe\u2019s newest Copernicus satellite<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nIn the photo, Pier Paolo Emanuelli discusses Sentinel flight operations with ESA\u2019s head of operations, Paolo Ferri, in the main control room.\n<\/p>\n \nMore information<\/b>\n<\/p>\n \nSentinel-2 operations<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \nGround segment – preparing for launch<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \nLaunch campaign at ESOC<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nOn Monday this week, 30 days before the scheduled launch of Sentinel-2B, flight director Pier Paolo Emanuelli reported that the ‘ground segment<\/a>’ – the hardware, systems and networks used on Earth to control the satellite in orbit – is ‘green’ for launch.\n<\/p>\n \nLiftoff is scheduled for 7 March at 01:49 GMT on a Vega rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. The mission control team at ESA’s mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, will take over control of Sentinel-2B about 58 minutes later.\n<\/p>\n \nIn Darmstadt, final prelaunch activities<\/a>, including simulation training and readiness tests, are in high gear as the centre counts down to Europe’s newest Copernicus satellite<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nIn the photo, Pier Paolo Emanuelli discusses Sentinel flight operations with ESA’s head of operations, Paolo Ferri, in the main control room.\n<\/p>\n \nMore information<\/b>\n<\/p>\n \nSentinel-2 operations<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n