BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, May 01, 2009 — Early this week, after standalone tests finished, the IndoStar II/ProtoStar II spacecraft (SC) was mounted and clamped onto the payload adapter (PLA). The SC and the PLA stack were then mated to the Breeze M the next day, forming the orbital unit (OU). Testing and battery charging completed during the night, tilting of the OU subsequently followed.
Encapsulation completed today; afterwards, mission teams signed the payload fairing in accordance with tradition. Shortly, the ascent unit will be transferred to Hall 111 for integration with the Proton M launcher.