Joint operations on assembling of Proton-M booster nose cone for Astra-2E telecommunication satellite launch started in 92-A50 integration building of Baikonur spaceport, – Khrunichev Centre press-office reports. Astra 2E space device was constructed by EADS Astrium (France) on SES (Luxemburg) satellite communication operator order.
Upon arrival at the spaceport Astra 2E space device was placed in the integration building hall 103, where Astrium engineers conducted all necessary off-line tests and filled the device with propellant. Monday morning Astra 2E was transferred to hall 101 and installed on adaptor system, facilitating to dock the device with the upper stage. The device and upper stage was assembled on Tuesday.
Apart from space device and upper stage works on space head include installation of the nose fairing half on space device, docked with upper stage and following electric tests of space head.
Along with that in the next hall Khrunichev centre specialists finish preparing Proton-M booster to the assembling with the nose cone.
