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Mission Update

Final payload integration is underway at the Spaceport for Arianespace's upcoming Soyuz mission with Galileo satellites

October 3, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS03

The two Galileo navigation satellites to be launched on Arianespace’s October 12 Soyuz flight from French Guiana have been integrated on their payload dispenser, marking another key step in the preparations for this medium-lift mission.

Galileo FM3 and its FM4 co-passenger were installed on the dispenser system, which then will be encapsulated in the Soyuz payload fairing. 

The dual-payload dispenser for Galileo was developed by RUAG Space Sweden for Arianespace, and carries the satellites in a side-by-side arrangement.  It will deploy the spacecraft by firing a pyrotechnic separation system to release them in opposite directions at the orbital insertion point.

After being lofted by Arianespace’s upcoming third Soyuz mission from French Guiana – which is designated VS03 in the company’s numbering system – these two Galileo spacecraft will join another pair of similar of European navigation satellites orbited on the Soyuz launcher’s historic maiden Spaceport flight, performed on October 21, 2011. 

• See the Arianespace launch kit for further details.
• Related link:
  RUAG Space website