Time-lapse: Falcon 9 lifted vertical on pad 39A (members only)

The massive 212-foot-long core stage of the Space Launch System rocket arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center late Tuesday morning. Rollout to the VAB is set to begin around 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday.

Technicians working in the jungle of French Guiana have installed four new European Galileo navigation satellites on top of their Ariane 5 launcher, and filled the rocket’s upper stage with storable liquid propellants for liftoff Tuesday.

The change comes days after the mission’s previous commander was promoted to lead NASA’s Astronaut Office. NASA and Boeing are also reducing the required number of missions to the International Space Station from six down to four.