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| | GIOVE-B / Fregat integration | |
GIOVE-B integrated with Fregat upper stage
15 April 2008
GIOVE-B has been integrated with the Fregat upper stage of the launch vehicle in the Upper Composite Integration Facility at Baikonur Cosmodrome.
GIOVE-B has been moved from the Hazardous Processing Facility - where it was fuelled - to the Upper Composite Integration Facility (UCIF). Having first been mounted on its payload adapter, the spacecraft was then integrated with the Fregat upper stage of the launch vehicle.
| | GIOVE-B mated with payload adapter | |
Flight qualified in 2000, the Fregat upper stage is an autonomous and flexible upper stage that is designed to operate as an orbital vehicle. Fregat consists of six spherical containers (four tanks for propellant/oxidiser, two housing avionics bays) arranged in a circle. The main engine is in the centre of the ring of spheres, keeping Fregat very compact. The stage is independent of the lower three launcher stages, having its own guidance, navigation, control, tracking, and telemetry systems.
| | Fregat ready for integration | |
Fregat's main engine provides just over two tonnes of thrust. The orientation of Fregat and its payload can be adjusted in orbit by means of 12 thrusters, each capable of generating 5kg of force.
After separation from the third stage of the Soyuz launcher, Fregat will burn its main engine three times to take GIOVE-B into its final orbit.
| | GIOVE-B and payload adapter | |
The next steps are to enclose GIOVE-B and Fregat in the launcher fairing, followed by integration of the resulting upper composite with the Soyuz launch vehicle. The second Galileo satellite is entering the closing stages of its launch campaign.
| | GIOVE-B and payload adapter | |
| | GIOVE-B / Fregat integration | |
| | GIOVE-B / Fregat integration | |
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| | Related news GIOVE-B fuelled and ready for Fregat integrationGIOVE-B under test; launcher integration under wayGIOVE-B in clean room at Baikonur CosmodromeGIOVE-B arrives at Baikonur CosmodromeGIOVE-B leaves ESTEC en-route to BaikonurRelated links Galileo website (European Commission)European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA)
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