Two Galileo satellites being placed inside the protective ‘nose cone’ of Ariane 6 (known as the fairing) at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
The fairing plays a crucial role as it shields the satellites from the elements and maintains a stable temperature and humidity. It also provides the aerodynamic shape Ariane 6 needs to pierce through Earth’s atmosphere as it thunders toward space.
The fairing separates during launch, allowing the satellites to begin their journey to medium Earth orbit, 23 222 km above Earth, ready to deliver precise navigation services to billions of users worldwide.