TIMED launch operations

Completion of all ground-based environmental testing of a spacecraft marks the start of the launch campaign. Launch operations are the hand-off point when the ground teams (design, development, assembly, and test) relinquish control and responsibility to the launch vehicle provider and Mission Operations Team that will actually operate the spacecraft in orbit. This article describes the TIMED launch operations, including shipment and transportation of the spacecraft and associated support hardware to the launch site, testing conducted at the Payload Processing Facility, launch vehicle integration operations, spacecraft system software and electrical testing, and preparation for launch.