Today, the Texus-EML sounding rocket which is jointly funded by ESA and DLR was successfully launched from Esrange at 09.04 UT. The Brazilian rocket motor VSB-30, was used for the very first time at Esrange. The flight provided 6 minutes and 37 seconds of microgravity as planned.

- This launch is a major step for the continuation of the sounding rocket activities at Esrange, says Dr. Olle Norberg, Head of Esrange. We are looking forward to many more launches with this new rocket type that will strengthen our position as one of the most important launch sites for sounding rockets in the world, concludes Dr. Norberg.

The three experiments on board performed as planned and the scientists are very optimistic about the results so far. During the flight they could interact with their samples in real time via telecommand. Both housekeeping and scientific data as well as video images where down linked to the ground station at Esrange. Interesting scientific results are expected. The scientists will analyse their samples and flight data at their home institutes.

Two newly designed technical systems were used during this flight for the first time. Both systems, the service module and the recovery system jointly developed by Kaiser Threde and DLR-Moraba, worked nominally.

- We are very happy about this flight. Both the experiment modules and the new service systems worked as planned and we are now expecting interesting scientific data from the evaluation of the flight data, says Mr. Wolfgang Herfs, project manager for ESA.

Due to reindeer herding in the eastern part of the Esrange impact area, Esrange chose to aim the rocket further west than usually. In addition, the vehicle flew 8 km higher than nominal. Both these conditions may have led to the fact that the payload landed 10 km into Norway in an uninhabited mountain area. The reasons to the landing outside the nominal impact area will be investigated.

The next rocket to be launched from Esrange will be the student rocket REXUS, planned for April 2006. Shortly thereafter two larger sounding rockets will be launched within the ELIPS program for ESA. Maxus 7 will be closely followed by Texus 43, both in May 2006. A separate press release on this matter will follow.

Read the first press release to get more details about the campaign. Read more about The Capillary Channel Flow Experiment

For more information please contact:

Mr. Stig Kemi, Head of Sounding Rocket and Balloon Department at SSC Esrange
Tel: +46 980 720 43 or +46 703472043

Olle Norberg, Chef för Esrange
Tel: +46 980 720 42 or +46 70 587 20 42

Mrs. Johanna Bergström-Roos, Information Manager at SSC Esrange
Tel: +46 980-720 24 or +46 70-544 60 21

Mr. Wolfgang Herfs, Sounding Rocket Project Manager at ESA
Tel: +46 980 72 000 (switch board at Esrange until shortly after the launch)
Tel: +31 71 565 41 29 (his office in Noordwijk)

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