Wednesday February 11^th 2009. Launch -64 days.

We were told that the flight plan for Herschel’s journey to Kourou was fluid and so it has proved. In fact, Herschel went to the airport yesterday and was loaded into the Antonov transport last night. To our considerable amusement we were assured that someone had checked the contents of the container and Herschel was inside it (so, if an empty box arrives at Kourou, someone has stolen it en route). The plane should have left Schipol at 17:30 CET and is about half way across the Atlantic as I write, arriving just after 3am Central European Time tonight (midnight in French Guiana). The ground support equipment flight that has been taking the scenic – storm-avoiding – route should have arrived about an hour ago, at 20:30 CET. Once Herschel’s container arrives at Cayenne airport it will be unloaded from the aircraft and taken to Kourou. Once in French Guiana it’s final destination will be the clean room at the Spaceport but, before it can be taken there and opened, it must be thoroughly cleaned. Whether this happens at the airport or at Kourou is still not decided.

What happens then? Actually, for a day or so, absolutely nothing! The unopened box will stay in the clean room and adjust slowly to its temperature before it is finally opened. This is no time for haste.

It is noticeable that the atmosphere is much more relaxed now. Last night things worked well and that gives us confidence that we have fixed the problem. However, the last few days have been tense and I am most definitely feeling the strain. My alarm has been switched off and I have no intention of going in to work tomorrow: 10 straight days of a minimum of 10 hours is enough for one stretch.

Tomorrow two colleagues are coming round. We will have some dinner and then watch the Ariane launch. If all goes well, we will celebrate. Failure? As Margaret Thatcher said when asked about the danger of defeat in the South Atlantic war: “the possibility does not exist”. Now all I need is for England to beat Spain in the football tonight and life will be perfect. If we lose though, it will be just as well that I am not working tomorrow.