• ExoMars 2016 Spacecraft Encapsulated Within Launcher Fairing

    From baalke@1:2320/100 to sci.space.news on Fri Mar 4 21:03:01 2016
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.news

    http://exploration.esa.int/mars/57517-exomars-2016-spacecraft-encapsulated-within-launcher-fairing/

    ExoMars 2016 spacecraft encapsulated within launcher fairing
    European Space Agency
    03 March 2016

    With less than two weeks until the launch of ExoMars 2016, preparations
    are proceeding well and the spacecraft composite has now been encapsulated within the launcher fairing at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

    Earlier this week the spacecraft composite, comprised of the Trace Gas
    Orbiter and Schiaparelli, was mated with the launch vehicle adapter and installed on top of the Breeze upper stage. Yesterday, 2 March, the Breeze upper stage and spacecraft were encapsulated together within the two fairing halves. Prior to the encapsulation, they were tilted horizontally and
    the first fairing half was rolled underneath the spacecraft and Breeze,
    on a track inside the cleanroom. The second fairing half was then lowered
    into place by means of an overhead crane, encapsulating the payload.

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