Applying procedures that have been followed since the workhorse Soyuz launcher inaugurated the Space Age, the basic three-stage vehicle for Arianespace’s March 27 flight emerged today from its MIK integration building in the Spaceport’s northwestern sector.

The mobile gantry is moved into position over Flight VS11’s Soyuz after this medium-lift vehicle’s daytime transfer to the ELS launch zone.

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.

With this step completed, all was ready for the purpose-built 53-meter-tall mobile gantry to be moved into position around the launcher – a phase of the processing in French Guiana that differs from Soyuz operations at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.  The gantry provides a protected environment for installation of the “upper composite,” which consists of the two Galileo spacecraft, the Soyuz’ Fregat upper stage and a two-piece protective payload fairing.

The March 27 launch – designed VS11 in Arianespace’s numbering system – is scheduled to lift off at precisely 6:46:18 p.m. local time in French Guiana, with its Galileo satellite passengers to be deployed during a flight lasting approximately 3 hrs., 47 min. Total payload lift performance is estimated at 1,597 kg., which includes a combined mass of some 1,428 kg. for the two spacecraft.

Flight VS11’s passengers – built by OHB System, with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. supplying their navigation payloads – are the third and fourth Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites in the Galileo program, which is creating a European-operated space-based navigation system.

The European Commission is managing and funding Galileo’s FOC phase – during which the network’s complete operational and ground infrastructure will be deployed. The European Space Agency has been delegated as the design and procurement agent on the Commission’s behalf.