A Soyuz rocket rolled to a brand new launch pad at the Guiana Space Center in South America and completed several days of countdown tests and fit checks last week. These images show the rocket rolling from its assembly building to the launch pad, the Soyuz being lifted vertically, and it being joined by a Fregat upper stage and payload fairing.

The aerial snapshots show the rocket being exposed as the pad's mobile gantry retracted to begin the countdown rehearsal.

Photo credit: ESA/S. Corvaja