The GIOVE-A satellite meets its Starsem Soyuz launch vehicle

December 23, 2005

Europe's first Galileo demonstrator satellite has begun the final assembly process with its launch vehicle as mission activity at Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome shifts to the MIK 40 Soyuz integration facility.

Our images below detail the GIOVE-A satellite's first contact with Soyuz, keeping preparations on track for a liftoff in the morning hours of December 28. (Click on the photos for a larger version).

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The Soyuz launcher's third stage (at right) is ready for contact with the GIOVE-A satellite and its Fregat upper stage (which are encapsulated in the white payload fairing) as the final integration begins for Starsem's year-ending mission in 2005. This activity took place in the MIK 40 integration hall for Soyuz, where the GIOVE-A/Fregat combination was transferred overnight from Starsem's dedicated clean facilities. The 600-kg. GIOVE-A is the first of two validation spacecraft for Europe's new Galileo satellite-based navigation and positioning system.

This view shows the Soyuz third stage after its integration with GIOVE-A and the Fregat upper stage. The third stage uses a RD-0110 engine with four combustion chambers and nozzles. Three-axis flight control for the stage and its payload is provided by four vernier nozzles. Third stage ignition will occur at 4 min. 46 sec. into the mission, and it will burn for four minutes. The full duration of Starsem's flight with GIOVE-A is set at approximately 3 hr. 42 min., which includes three burns of the Fregat upper stage.

The Soyuz S-type payload fairing containing GIOVE-A and the Fregat upper stage is covered with temporary insulation blankets, completing its integration with the Soyuz launcher's third stage. These blankets will provide thermal protection while the completed Soyuz vehicle is transferred to launch pad #6 and prepared for liftoff, and they will be removed during the final countdown. Liftoff of Starsem's 15th commercial Soyuz flight remains on schedule for December 28 at 11:19 a.m. local time (5:19 a.m. GMT, 8:19 a.m. Moscow time, and 6:19 a.m. in Paris).

For additional information on the successful Starsem GIOVE-A launch, review the previous updates, along with the post-mission press release and Starsem's official launch kit.

Mission updates:


• Read our December 28 mission update which describes the latest successful Soyuz launch in detail.
• Our December 28 launch bulletin provides the first report after Soyuz' liftoff from Baikonur
• The December 27 update details the erection of Starsem's Soyuz on the launch pad with its GIOVE-A payload.
• Read the December 21 mission update, which reported on the completion of integration for the GIOVE-A satellite payload.
• See our first GIOVE-A mission update from December 2, which described the satellite's arrival at Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Press release:


• Read our press release about this successful Starsem mission.

Launch kit:


• Download the Starsem Starsem GIOVE-A launch kit for additional information on the mission and the Soyuz launch system. (2,344 Kb)

Related links:


• European Space Agency and the European Commission: Development partners for the Galileo system
• Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd: Manufacturer of the GIOVE-A satellite
• Galileo Joint Undertaking: Management organization for the Galileo program's development phase