Ariane 5 satellite preparation campaign
Satellites that booked a ride on an Ariane 5 arrived by plane at Rochambeau Airport in Cayenne, French Guiana. The containers holding the satellites and all the necessary equipment were then transferred by road to the Satellite Preparation Facilities at the Spaceport.
The typical operations needed to prepare a satellite for launch were, chronologically:
- installation of satellite check-out consoles and ground mechanical equipment
- placing of the satellite in a clean zone
- integration of separately shipped elements
- fitting the payload adaptor
- electrical and optical validation tests
- preparation of satellite for propellant filling
- filling with liquid propellant using specific equipment
- final pressurisation and checks to ensure that no leakages can occur
- final preparation of satellite prior to transfer to the Final Assembly Building
Once all the tests were completed the satellites were transferred to the Final Assembly Building where they were fitted on top of the launcher.
