15 November 2013
The pictures below show how the Swarm satellite assembly was lifted, positioned and joined to the Rockot Breeze upper stage of the launcher. All this took place yesterday.
The next step will be to fix the rocket fairing around the satellites to protect them during launch.
Preparing the Breeze upper stage for the Swarm satellite assembly. (ESA/ M Shafiq)
Swarm satellite assembly being rolled over to meet the Breeze upper stage of the launcher. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Swarm satellite assembly being moved for mating to the Breeze upper stage. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Top view of the Breeze upper stage of the Rockot launcher. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Swarm satellite assembly being hoisted towards the Breeze upper stage of the launcher. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Satellite assembly joining the Breeze upper stage. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Satellite assembly being aligned with the Breeze upper stage. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Close to the Breeze upper stage. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Joining Breeze upper stage. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Joining Breeze. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Breeze upper stage. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Swarm satellite assembly mated to Breeze. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
Fairing half-shell – for the next step on the road to launch. (ESA/M. Shafiq)
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