One half of the first Ariane 6 fairing shell is hoisted upright at the encapsulation hall at Europe’s Spaceport, French Guiana, in preparation for the arrival of the first passengers to fly on Europe’s new rocket, May 2024.
The payloads are put under a protective nose cone. This so-called fairing for Ariane 6 will ensure the cargo is kept at a nice ambient temperature and humidity while also protecting it from the elements. It also provides a sleek aerodynamic shape to help Ariane 6 overcome the atmosphere as it thunders upwards to space.
A rocket is pointless without a cargo, which is why they are called payloads, it’s what is paid for to send to space. The payloads can arrive by ship or airplane – Ariane 6 can launch everything from satellites to constellations and huge spacecraft such as Moon landers – different cargo has different shipment needs. Payload preparation facilities at Europe’s Spaceport prepare the cargo for launch and connects everything to a payload adapter to fit onto Ariane.