From Catherine (ESA), 13 November 2013
A hoisting device has been built around the three-satellite and launch adapter assembly. This will be used to lift the assembly onto the Breeze upper stage of the Rockot launcher.
Putting the hoisting device in place took a couple of steps.
Mounting lower ring of hoisting device. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Firstly, this involved mounting the lower hoisting ring to the adapter. Then three vertical beams were bolted to the lower ring. To complete the hoisting structure, a second ring was mounted to stabilise the beams.
Finally, the hoisting slings were secured to the beams and to the three arms of the crane adapter.
Building the hoisting device around the satellite assembly. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
The whole assembly was unbolted from the lower adapter ground support equipment and transferred to the dolly.
Once the full new assembly was secured by bolting the adapter to the dolly, the ancillary lifting equipment was removed.
The satellite assembly and hoisting device will remain in this waiting position until they are transferred to hall 101B.
The sensitive parts of the spacecraft and in particular the solar array cavities, remain protected by antistatic foils.
Assembly on the dolly. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
There are very few things yet to be done on the satellites such as the electrical connection of solar arrays, removal of red tagged items and final sealing of the thermal blankets.
Then the satellites will be encapsulated in the Rockot fairing, which is scheduled for Monday 18 November.
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