This activity started with creation of the mission’s payload “stack,” beginning with the installation of Pléiades 1B atop its Fregat upper stage on November 21.   Performed inside the Spaceport’s S3B payload processing building, the integration was followed by the “stack’s” completion on November 22 with its encapsulation by the two-piece Soyuz ST payload fairing.

In parallel, the Spaceport’s ELS launch site for Soyuz also was busy as the basic three-stage launcher was raised from the tooling used for its integration in the MIK assembly building and placed on a horizontal transporter/erector rail car November 23 for transfer to the launch pad.  Soyuz’ rollout from the MIK facility occurred today, enabling the Soyuz to be erected in its vertical position at the pad, where it is now suspended in place by four large support arms.

With this step completed, all was ready for the purpose-built 53-meter tall mobile gantry to be moved into position around the launcher, providing a protected environment for tonight’s installation of the Pléiades 1B payload “stack” – which will be hoisted inside the gantry and secured atop the Soyuz.

Friday’s nighttime Soyuz launch with Pléiades 1B is to mark Arianespace’s fourth mission for the medium-lift vehicle at the Spaceport since its French Guiana service entry in October 2011 – and the second performed by the company with the Russian-built launcher this year from South America.

With a fueled mass of approximately 1 metric ton, the dual-use Pléiades 1B spacecraft will provide very-high-resolution optical imaging coverage for the French and Spanish defense ministries, civil institutions and private users.   It will operate from a 695-km. circular orbit, joining the twin Pléiades 1A spacecraft launched by Arianespace last December on Soyuz’ second mission from the Spaceport.

The Pléiades prime contractor and system architect is France’s CNES space agency, which selected the Astrium division of EADS to build both the Pléiades 1B and 1A satellites.

Integration of the Soyuz mission’s payload “stack” inside the Spaceport’s S3B processing building is detailed in the two photos at left, as Pléiades 1B is lowered into place atop the Fregat upper stage, followed by encapsulation with the two-piece payload fairing. In the photo at right – taken inside the Spaceport’s MIK assembly building for Soyuz – the launcher is shown being transferred from its integration tooling for installation on the horizontal transporter/erector rail car used in today’s rollout to the launch pad.