PHOTOS: Vega's second launch campaign

Europe's second Vega launcher will inject three satellites into orbit Friday to examine planet Earth and test new technologies in space.

The 98-foot-tall rocket will lift off from French Guiana at 0206:31 GMT Saturday (10:06:31 p.m. EDT), and the four-stage launcher will release the final payload in orbit about two hours later.

These images chronicle the preparation of the rocket's payloads: Proba-V, VNREDSat 1 and ESTCube 1. The photos also show assembly of the launcher's Vespa dual-payload adapter and the attachment of the 8.5-foot-diameter clamshell-like payload fairing atop the rocket.

The aerial images at bottom were taken in late April following the completion of the launcher's assembly at the Guiana Space Center, a European-run spaceport on the northeast coast of South America.

See our Mission Status Center for the latest news on the launch.

Vietnam's French-built VNREDSat 1 spacecraft is prepared for launch in a clean room at the Guiana Space Center. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Photo Optique video du CSG/S. Martin

The European Space Agency's Proba-V satellite is wheeled into a different part of a clean room. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Photo Optique video du CSG/S. Martin

Estonia's ESTCube CubeSat is placed inside its deployer. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Photo Optique video du CSG/S. Martin

Workers attach Proba-V to its payload adapter. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Photo Optique video du CSG/S. Martin

Technicians lower VNREDSat 1 into the Vespa dual-payload adapter. The second Vega launch marks the first use the Vespa apparatus to support two primary satellite payloads. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Photo Optique video du CSG/S. Martin

The upper half of the Vespa adapter is lowered over VNREDSat 1. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Photo Optique video du CSG/S. Martin

With Proba-V now attached atop the Vespa adapter, the payloads are ready for encapsulation. Photo credit: ESA/Karim Mellab

Workers lift the payload fairing and satellites in preparation for transfer to the Vega launch zone. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Photo Optique video du CSG/P. Baudon

The satellites arrive the night of April 19 at the base of the 16-story Vega launch pad gantry. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Photo Optique video du CSG/L. Mira

After hoisting with cranes, the payload fairing its prepared for attachment to the Vega fourth stage. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Photo Optique video du CSG/P. Baudon

Technicians gently guide the 30-foot-tall payload fairing in place atop the Vega launcher. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Photo Optique video du CSG/P. Baudon

See larger image. Photo credit: ESA/Stephane Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/Stephane Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/Stephane Corvaja

See larger image. Photo credit: ESA/Stephane Corvaja

Photo credit: ESA/Stephane Corvaja
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