Photos: Ariane 5 Assembly for VA235 Mission

Europe’s heavy-lift workhorse takes shape at the Guiana Space Center for its year-opening mission on February 14, 2017 tasked with lifting a pair of commercial communications satellites into Geostationary Transfer Orbit for Brazil and Indonesia. Assembly of the 55-meter tall launcher started with the installation of the EPC Cryo Core on one of two operational launch tables before the twin EAP Solid Rocket Boosters were attached to the 5.4-meter core stage followed by the installation of the ESC-A Second Stage, already integrated with the Vehicle Equipment Bay.

All Photos: Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique Video du CSG