Testing the new Soyuz launch site in French Guiana. Click for larger. Credit: ESA - S. Corvaja, 2011

The Soyuz spacecraft will soon be launching from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The facilities are almost complete and final testing began on April 29, 2011 with a simulated launch.  The simulation is designed to ensure the facilities work as expected and allow teams to train under realistic conditions.

The image shows the vehicle as it was transferred from the preparation building to the launch area and moved to the vertical position.  A mobile gantry was then rolled out to the pad and the upper stage was hoisted atop the launcher.

The first launch will be in the third quarter of 2011.

Read more about it and see lots more images here.