CryoSat-2 currently being tested in Ottobrunn

The European Space Agency's CryoSat-2 spacecraft is currently undergoing final tests in Ottobrunn, near Munich. It is scheduled to be launched from Kazakhstan in February 2010.

The satellite's mission is to survey ice thickness and ocean circulation patterns at the north and south poles.

The first CryoSat was destroyed on launch October 8, 2005 when the rocket, a converted ICBM, failed to cut out at the scheduled moment.

CryoSat-2 is mostly a rebuild of the original version, but with slight modifications and enhancements to its scientific instruments.

Once launched the satellite will be tracked from a ground station in Kiruna, northern Sweden, and controlled from the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt.

Related weblinks:

• European Space Agency: CryoSat-2
  
• Wikipedia: CryoSat

As of September 2009, the launch is planned for December 2009. (Wikipedia)

Wikipedia appears to be out of date. The BBC News article says launch is targeted for February 28, 2010.

Is it just me, or have they built a big pair of boobs on that satellite?!

You've got to say, it does bear a striking resemblance to a halloween C-3P0 costume constructed by a weekend dad who has never actually heard of Star Wars, and only had a load of old cereal boxes and some tin foil at hand, consequently condemning his child to look like a complete tosser dressed up in cereal boxes and tin foil, resulting in endless scorn and taunting from his mates, and no doubt emotionally scarring him for life.
Bastard.

Maybe. I put my post in because post#1 originally said it was planned to launch in Feb 2009.

Cool, but just out interest why is this being launched from Kazakhstahn - I thought the ESA had it's own spaceport and rocket systems in French Guiana?

Just a quess, but as the rocket it's being launched on ("Dnepr") is a converted Russian ICBM, I would imagine the cost is a lot less than launching on an Ariane. The Dnepr lifts around 3,600 Kg which is a lot less than the Ariane 5 family of rockets.

Just found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_medium_lift_launch_systems which does show the Dnepr launch costs per kg are lower.