Ariane 5, V160, is ready for lift off

An Ariane 5G, sitting atop its mobile launch platform, is ready for lift off from the Ariane Launch Complex no.3 (ELA-3) of the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's space port, on April 9, 2003. On this flight (V160), the payloads were India's Insat 3A geostationary communications and weather satellite and Galaxy XII, a U.S. communications satellite.

Visible in the foreground are the two pallets used to move the Ariane 5 Solid Booster Stages after their integration in the Booster Integration Building (BIP). These pallets are installed above the launch table in the Launcher Integration Building (BIL) and remain on it until lift off.