On 12 October 2012 a Soyuz lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to carry the third and fourth satellites of Europe’s Galileo global navigation satellite system into orbit.

This time-lapse movie shows the three-stage Soyuz transfer from the assembly and testing building to the launch pad, where it is then raised to the vertical position. Once in the mobile gantry, the upper composite, comprising the satellites and Fregat-MT upper stage, is hoisted on top of the vehicle. The gantry is then rolled back, clearing the way for Soyuz to lift off. VS03 was the third Soyuz flight from Europe’s Spaceport.