The new German radar satellite TerraSAR-X has left Friedrichshafen airport aboard the largest standard transport aircraft in the world, an Antonov AN 124, today - set for the destination of Baikonur, Kazhakstan, from where it will be brought into orbit.

Upon its arrival in Baikonur, teams of EADS Astrium and the German Aerospace Center now need to conduct four to six weeks of further preparations before the satellite's launch, which is envisaged to take place by mid April.