Credit: European Space Agency

The fairing, which encapsulates the GOCE satellite, with the GOCE and Eurockot logos.

There is no reason to be surprised or shocked by the fact that the launch of GOCE suffer yet another delay. This time they are having some trouble with the launcher at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia where the action will take place, now presumably 27th October 2008. Shit happens. As long as we get this beauty of a satellite into orbit eventually, safe and sound, it is all fine and dandy by me. :-)

The Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE):
The European Space Agency is about to launch the most sophisticated mission ever to investigate the Earth’s gravitational field and to map the reference shape of our planet – the geoid - with unprecedented resolution and accuracy.

Interested in more information about GOCE? Start with GRACE&GOCE and follow the links.