Venus Express on the Move
10 August 2005
The Venus Express satellite, including all of its supporting equipment has moved to Baikonur as planned and arrived on time and on schedule. The equipment was transported using two Antonov 124 freight aircraft seen here being loaded in Toulouse and on its way in the skies to Baikonur.The total load for the flight was 55 tons which was no problem for the Antonov which can normally handle easily the double of this. The launch campaign is now in full swing with the ESA and industrial teams of ASTRIUM and ALENIA present on site. The first tests of the spacecraft in its launch site test programme have already begun with the final leak checks of the propulsion system.
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Antonov An-124 |
Loading of the spacecraft |
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Loading crew |
Underway |
Last Update: 1 September 2019
