Sunday 7th of March Poscard

Dear All,
This was a funny configuration of the breakfast table at the restaurant this morning.

This just reflects that all of the CryoSat-2 team, except I, has now left Baikonur. Colleagues progressively will come back when the campaign will resume. It is really a piety to have temporarily lost this "dream team" and on the top of it their very good company. But be sure the morale is good and the "baby sitting" continues normally.

As usual, Sunday offers a good chance for a long walking tour. It was unexpectedly raining this morning when leaving the Hotel, reminding a typical mid November Dutch weather.

Last week I promised to go to the beach but of course I had to downgrade this ambition. Instead, I visited to the "Orion baccein". The picture below will just give you a flavour of it. In fact, this topic does deserve a full message. You will then know more in the next days!

A bit later, I unexpectedly met with the wolf of "Петя и Волк" (Peter and the Wolf). This will also be the subject of seaprate note. A bit of suspense is needed to keep the audience in this rather quiet phase.

But the most important thing today in Baikonur is the preparation of the women's day tomorrow, 8th of March. Apparently it is a very important celebration all over the former Soviet Union. Flower sales is definitely a good business today as long as tomorrow most of the activity in Baikonur will be sopped.

...but not for all because I shall visit our baby tomorrow as usual, and most important is that we are also preparing for a purging of the AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem) Low Pressure Branch in order to prevent an excess of pressure that could damage the thrusters.
In other words, "On purge bébé".

Keep in touch,
Poka!

Kirill B.

PS:
There is still a bit of road before launch...but adapting is our strength! :-)