Soyuz mobile gantry

The launch site is almost identical to the other Soyuz facilities in Kazakhstan and Russia, and has been adapted to conform to European safety regulations.

The most visible difference is a mobile gantry, which allows payloads to be installed on the launcher vertically. Its total height is 53 m and its internal movable work platforms provide access to the launcher a various levels. The gantry provides a protected environment for the installation of payloads, as well as for the checkout of fully integrated vehicles.