Geosynchronous Satellites

KOUROU SPACE CENTRE, FRENCH GUIANA - MARCH 2014: Astra 5B is prepared for integration into the Ariane 5 fairing (nose-cone) in the cleanroom of the Fairing Integration Area. The last major step in the launch campaign is Ariane 5's transfer by rail to the 90-meter-tall Final Assembly Building. It is inside this facility that the launcher receives its payload, along with the Sylda structures, and the payload fairing. These payload elements are processed within an encapsulation hall inside the Final Assembly Building. The payload is then hoisted by a traveling crane and transferred for installation atop the launcher. The launch table's umbilical mast is fitted with a 20-meter extension, which includes connections for the payload fairing's air-conditioning system. The EPS upper stage and the launcher's integrated attitude control system are fuelled in the final assembly building. When integration activity in the Final Assembly Building is finished, the mobile launch table with its completed launcher is rolled out to the Launch Zone (ZL). This step occurs about 12 hours before launch. (Photo by Toby Smith/Getty Images)