Flight adaptor OK

As part of the POC activities, an inspection of the flight adaptor has taken place today 20/06/2102 at EPCU S5B. This mechanical part is quiet essential as it it is the direct interface between the launcher and the MSG-3 spacecraft. A clamp band will secure and tighten the spacecraft on this adaptor.
In flight, few minutes after lift off, six springs around the upper ring will push the spacecraft away from the adaptor after the activated pyrotechnic devices will open the clamp band. At this moment of the mission, the separation of the spacecraft from the launcher adaptor will take place. This will be monitored by two switches located on the top flange.

Inside the adaptor, Thales mechanical engineer checks carefully the position of the accelerometers that will record during launch the level of shocks seen by the lower part of the spacecraft particularly during the fairing and the clamp band opening.

A separate inspection of the bare clamp band was also part of today activity.
Worth to mention that the adaptor and the clamp band are manufactured by RUAG Sweden. A RUAG team is at CSG for completing the final preparation of these two  mechanical parts.

MSG-3 will be mated/clamped on the adaptor on 22/06/2012 at EPCU S5B and then loaded on the the CCU (Container de Charge Utile/Payload Container) for a transfer to BAF panned on 25/06/2012.