The Planck spacecraft mated with its launcher
Date: 23 April 2009
Satellite: Planck
Depicts: The spacecraft just after mating with the Ariane 5 ECA launcher
Location: Final assembly building (BAF), CSG, Kourou, French Guiana
Copyright: ESA-CNES-Arianespace / Optique Vidéo du CSG - P. Baudon
Still attached to the arms of the vertical lifting device, this image was taken just after mating of the Planck spacecraft on top of the Ariane 5 ECA launcher. The golden-yellow ring attached to the base of the spacecraft's service module is the launcher adapter ring (Adaptateur Charge Utile, or ACU).
The ACU has a diameter of 2.624 m and is secured to the launcher through a 0.78m-high adapter cone, composed of a strong carbon structure and two aluminium rings. Seen running as an iris around the adapter cone is the top of the Vehicle Equipment Bay (VEB).
Last Update: 1 September 2019
