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| | | | | | | Building the Soyuz launch facility at Europe’s Spaceport – part two
18 June 2009
| | | | Transporter/erector system (continued)
| Construction of the new Soyuz launch facility at the Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais – CSG), Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Personnel working on the coupler connection for the rail tug that will push the transporter/erector carrying the Soyuz launch vehicle from the launcher assembly and testing building (монтажно-испытательный корпус; montazhno-ispytatelniy korpus – MIK) to the launch pad. The transporter/erector will exit through doors at the far end of the building. On top of the transporter/erector is a large, yellow circular structure that supports the Soyuz when the launcher is rolled out in its horizontal position.
Credits: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Optique vidéo du CSG - P. Baudon | |  |  | |
| | | | Transporter/erector test apparatus
| Construction of the new Soyuz launch facility at the Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais – CSG), Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Testing of the Soyuz transporter/erector will be carried out using this apparatus, which represents the dimensions of the lower part of the Soyuz launch vehicle. The two semi-circular panels in the foreground replicate the contact interface between two of the launcher’s lower strap-on boosters on the transporter/erector.
Credits: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Optique vidéo du CSG - G. Barbaste | | | | |
| | | | Railway infrastructure
| Construction of the new Soyuz launch facility at the Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais – CSG), Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
The railway infrastructure that supports Soyuz operations on the launch pad. In the foreground is a straight section of track that leads to the launcher assembly and testing building (монтажно-испытательный корпус; montazhno-ispytatelniy korpus – MIK), which will be used for the rollout of Soyuz launch vehicles on their transporter/erector. The curved portion of track (visible coming from the right) will be used for a railway tanker that brings kerosene propellant for fuelling of the four Soyuz boosters and Block A core stage. An additional load of kerosene that is maintained at a lower temperature will be delivered by truck for fueling of the Soyuz Block I third stage.
Credits: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Optique vidéo du CSG - J. M. Guillon | | | | |
| | | | Soyuz primary support arms
| 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 that suspend Soyuz over its launch pad, shown in the open position. During launcher checkout and final countdown, these arms are closed around the Soyuz, forming a support ring at the vehicle’s ‘waist.’ At liftoff, the upward movement of the launch vehicle decreases the load on the support arms, allowing them to swing outward under the influence of counterweights located at their base.
Credits: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Optique vidéo du CSG - P. Baudon | | | | |
| | | | | 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 one of the four primary support arms, taken from inside the launch table. The upper, v-shaped portion serves as a segment of the support ring for Soyuz and also serves as a work platform to provide ground crews access to the launch vehicle.
Credits: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Optique vidéo du CSG - G. Barbaste | | | | |
| | | | | 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.
Credits: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Optique vidéo du CSG - M. Rechou | | | | |
| | | | | Construction of the new Soyuz launch facility at the Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais – CSG), Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
A crane installs counterweights at the base of one of the four Soyuz primary support arms. When this ingenious support arm concept was originally developed for the Soyuz launch vehicle family, its designers gave it the nickname ‘tulip’. This refers to the tilt-back movement of its four ‘petals’ – which begins when the arms are opened by the upward motion of the launch vehicle, followed by their tracking outward with the force provided by their counterweights.
Credits: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Optique vidéo du CSG - P. Baudon | | | | |
| | | | | 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.
Credits: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Optique vidéo du CSG - P. Baudon | | | | |
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| | Related links Building the Soyuz launch facility at Europe’s Spaceport – part oneExternal links Russian Federal Space Agency
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