Construction of the new Soyuz launch facility at the Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais – CSG), Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
The four primary support arms for Soyuz, after their installation on the launch pad. The arms are in the closed position, where they form a support ring around the ‘waist’ of Soyuz, suspending the vehicle in position over the launch pad. During the launch sequence, the upward movement of the Soyuz launch vehicle at liftoff decreases the loads on this support ring, allowing the four arms to open outward – moved by counterweights installed at the base of each arm.