Soyuz fairing

The first two stages and four first stage boosters of Soyuz ST-B launcher have been integrated at Spaceport in French Guiana in preparation to launch the seventh and eighth Galileo satellites on 27 March.

The satellites are undergoing final testing and preparations.

Assembly of the Soyuz ST-B is being carried out at the spaceport’s Soyuz launcher integration building.

With the addition of the third stage, the main part of the launcher will be completed, after which it will be moved to the launch pad and placed in vertical position.

Soyuz’s fourth stage will be attached to the vehicle after the two satellites, dispenser and launch fairing are mounted on it.

"The re-ignitable Fregat will transport the two satellites to their final medium earth orbit at an altitude of 23,222km."

The re-ignitable Fregat will transport the two satellites to their final medium earth orbit at an altitude of 23,222km.

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The seventh and eighth Galileo satellites reached French Guiana in February, and completed system compatibility test campaign and a ‘fit check’.

Finalisation of hardware and software, and charging of satellites’ batteries were also completed.

The satellites will be installed together this month on dispenser, which will hold them in place atop the Fregat during the flight and release them at final orbit.

They will be fuelled at the spaceport’s S5A fuelling facility and will be in launch configuration after final checks.

Engineers from Arianespace will carry out the final preparation called combined operations prior to the launch day.

Image: View of the Soyuz rocket fairing carrying a pair of Galileo satellites. Photo: courtesy of ESA-J Huart, 2014.