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Fitting the clamp-band

Fitting the clamp-band


Date: 14 October 2015
Satellite: LISA Pathfinder
Location: S5C building, Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, French Guiana
Copyright: ESA-F. Bertini

The ground clamp-band, between the LISA Pathfinder science module (above, gold-coloured) and propulsion modules (below, silver-coloured), is opened prior to removal and replacement by the flight clamp-band.

The clamp-band is a belt that is tightened around two metal rings: one on the propulsion module and one on the science module. During launch, the belt holds both modules together, and once the spacecraft has reached its operational orbit around L1 – about fifty days after launch – the belt is released letting the modules fly free.

Special mobile access platforms ('cherry pickers') are used to provide access for engineers to difficult-to-reach places.

These activities are taking place in the high bay of the EPCU (Ensemble de Préparation de la Charge Utile) S5C building at the Centre Spatial Guyanais, in Kourou.

Last Update: 1 September 2019
28-Mar-2024 14:03 UT

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