Mating of the Planck spacecraft and the Ariane 5 ECA launcher
Date: 23 April 2009
Satellite: Planck
Depicts: Mating of spacecraft with launcher
Copyright: ESA-CNES-Arianespace / Optique Vidéo du CSG - P. Baudon
With the launcher adapter ring (Adaptateur Charge Utile, or ACU) integrated at the base of Planck's service module the Planck spacecraft is put in place on the Ariane 5 ECA launcher inside the final assembly building (Bâtiment d'Assemblage Final, or BAF).
Only the top of the launcher is visible in this image, with the top of the Vehicle Equipment Bay (VEB) running as an iris around the central adapter cone onto which the Planck spacecraft is being secured through the ACU.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
