Vega rocket, Kazakh satellite prepared for launch

BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: April 28, 2014

These photos chronicle preparations over the last two months leading up to launch of Europe's third Vega rocket with a high-resolution Earth observation satellite for the government of Kazakhstan.

The photos begin with stacking of the solid-fueled first, second and third stages of the Vega booster on the rocket's Guiana Space Center launch pad, continuing through arrival of the DZZ-HR (KazEOSat 1) satellite on an Air France cargo plane at the airport in nearby Cayenne.

The images show fueling of the DZZ-HR spacecraft, built by Airbus Defence & Space, followed by encapsulation of the 1,830-pound satellite inside the Vega rocket's payload fairing.

The series ends with the attachment of the Vega rocket's upper composite, including the spacecraft and Swiss-built fairing, on top of the launcher's Ukrainian liquid-fueled fourth stage.

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

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - G. Barbaste

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - G. Barbaste

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - G. Barbaste

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - G. Barbaste

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - P. Baudon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - JM Guillon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - JM Guillon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - JM Guillon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - JM Guillon

Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Photo Optique Video du CSG - JM Guillon

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