The 27-March medium-lift Soyuz to be launched from French Guiana is now complete following the integration of its “upper composite”, which consists of two Galileo satellites, their protective payload fairing and the Fregat upper stage. Read more…
The Soyuz for Arianespace’s next VS11 mission is in the launch zone at French Guiana, where it stands ready to receive the two Galileo satellites.
Applying procedures that have been followed since the workhorse Soyuz launcher inaugurated the Space Age, the basic three-stage vehicle for March 27 flight emerged today from its MIK integration building in the Spaceport’s northwestern sector (Soyuz site at Europe’s Spaceport).
Riding horizontally on a transporter/erector rail car, Soyuz was transferred to the ELS launch zone, which was followed by its erection to the vertical orientation and positioning over the launch pad, suspended in place by four large support arms. Read more…
The payload build-up has been completed in French Guiana for Arianespace’s medium-lift Soyuz mission on March 27, which is to orbit the seventh and eighth Galileo satellites.
These latest preparations, which occurred on 23-March in the Spaceport’s S3B clean room facility, involved installation of the two Galileo spacecraft with their dispenser system atop Soyuz’ Fregat upper stage, followed by encapsulation in the two-piece protective payload fairing. Read more…
The sixth Galileo satellite has now entered its corrected target orbit, which will allow detailed testing to assess the performance of its navigation payload.
Launched with the fifth Galileo last August, its initial elongated orbit saw it travelling as high as 25900 km above Earth and down to a low point of 13713 km, confusing the Earth sensor used to point its navigation antennas at the ground. Read more…
The Soyuz launcher for Arianespace’s upcoming mission with the two Galileo satellites is taking shape at the Kourou Spaceport for a 27-March liftoff from French Guiana.
During activity in the Spaceport’s Soyuz Launcher Integration Building, the medium-lift workhorse began to assume its iconic form. The assembly of the Soyuz ST-B’s first two stages, plus its four first stage boosters, took place last week. Assembly takes place on a horizontal basis, in the Russian manner. Read more…