ESA's new Envisat satellite is an advanced polar-orbiting Earth observation satellite which will be launched by Ariane 5 at the end of 2001. It carries a package of ten multi-disciplinary instruments to observe the Earth and its atmosphere form space in a synergistic fashion, offering unprecedented opportunities in environmental monitoring and operational Earth observation.
Prior to its launch Envisat had to go through a series of important tests in order to assess that everything will operate nominally on its journey to, and once in, orbit. These tests include accoustic testing in the Large European Acoustic Facility (LEAF0 and vibration testing on the Hydra hydraulic shaker. These rushes were filmed as Envisat was being moved to LEAF for testing.

02:01:00 Engineers detaching crane in preparation for move
02:03:30 Initiation of move
02:09:35 Engineers move up on cherry picker to attach crane
02:16:15 Unscrewing bolts ready for Envisat to be lifted
02:18:51 Envisat being raised off the moving platform
02:22:22 Envisat being craned into LEAF
02:26:19 Envisat being lowered onto holding platform in LEAF
02:32:49 END