ESA Galileo Soyuz Launch: The Upper Composite moved into position

Here the Galileo satellites, inside the fairing, are carefully lifted to be placed onto the Soyuz Launcher.

Soyuz flight VS01 will launch the first Galileo satellites into orbit on October 20th 2011. This historic launch not only sees the first Galileo satellites in orbit, but also the first launch of a Soyuz launcher from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

For further information on this historic launch please visit: www.esa.int/Galileo_IOV/

For a slideshow of Soyuz in preparation for launch, please visit: www.flickr.com//photos/esa_events/

Credits: ESA, S.Corvaja 2011