Soyuz being prepared in French Guiana for first Galileo launch Oct 2011

[gary]

The European Union's spaceport in French Guiana have been busy preparing two
Soyuz ST-B launchers that will carry the first four Galileo navigation satellites.

Manufactured in Russia, the launchers were transported by rail and then ship
to the spaceport which has now been adapted to operate three different launchers -
Ariane, Soyuz and Vega.

Scheduled for launch in October 2011, this will be the first time a Soyuz has been
launched from a location other than Baikonur in Kazakhstan or Plesetsk in Russia.

The first two Galileo satellites will be "in orbit validation" (IOV) satellites and the
following two will then form the nucleus of the new European Galileo global
navigation system.

A June 21 2011 ESA news article appears here including pictures -
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMUD11T1PG_index_0.html

Story and video on Galileo IOV satellites here -
http://www.esa.int/esaNA/SEMZKT9TVPG_galileo_0.html