LISA Pathfinder being transferred to the Vega launcher's Payload Adaptor
Date: 12 November 2015
Satellite: LISA Pathfinder
Location: Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, French Guiana
Copyright: ESA-CNES-Arianespace / Optique Vidéo du CSG - G. Barbaste
The LISA Pathfinder launch composite being lowered onto the Vega launcher's payload adaptor (PLA). The PLA – the black conical structure – is the fixture by which the spacecraft is mounted on the launcher.
The conical structure at the base of the LISA Pathfinder propulsion module is the main engine nozzle, a 400 Newton class liquid apogee engine (LAE) providing the impulses for the major delta-V manoeuvres.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
