Construction of the new Soyuz launch facility at the Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais – CSG), Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Close-up view of the installation of the counterweights at the base of one of the primary support arms on the Soyuz launch pad. During the launch sequence, upward movement of the Soyuz launch vehicle at liftoff decreases the loads on the support ring at the top of the arms, allowing the four arms to open outward – moved by the counterweights.