How Europe's Spaceport prepares for a Soyuz launch

Space · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: This video details a simulated launch campaign held in French Guiana to ensure the Soyuz rocket and its new facilities operate in perfect harmony under realistic conditions.

Conducted between 29 April and 5 May 2011, the dry run validated launch procedures through the final phase, excluding the fuelling of the vehicle. The simulation involved transferring the vehicle from the preparation building to the launch zone for vertical erection. The process included rolling out a mobile gantry and hoisting the upper composite—consisting of the payload fairing and the Fregat upper stage—onto the launcher, concluding with a simulated liftoff and downrange flight.

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