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Guiana Space Centre starts preparing for Soyuz-ST-B launch

Soyuz-ST-V rocket is completely assembled in horizontal position ahead of schedule in testing facility of Baikonur

MOSCOW, October 9 (Itar-Tass) —— The Guiana Space Centre has began preparing Russian Soyuz-ST-B launch vehicle for its first launch scheduled for October 20. The missile should put into the orbit two Galileo navigational satellites, Arianespace, France’s operator of Soyuz-ST told ARMS-TASS on Sunday.

"Our work continues according to schedule," head of operations at the Soyuz launch complex Jean-Claude Garreau said.

Soyuz-ST-V rocket is completely assembled in horizontal position ahead of schedule in testing facility of Baikonur.

Now the rocket may be taken to the launch pad and brought to the vertical position. In this position, Fregat-MT upper stage, two Galileo satellites and protective cover of the payload fairing will be docked to the rocket.

Fregat-MT upper stage will be fuelled, and then engineers will begin installation of Galileo satellites.