Volga-Dnepr Airlines has transported another item that will be used as part of the ExoMars mission organised jointly by the European Space Agency and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos.
The Russian airline transported a 16-ton Breeze-M booster from Moscow to Baikonur on an An-124 freighter in preparation for the space vehicles’ scheduled launch on March 14.
The booster was protected by a special transportation container to maintain the integrity of its sensitive equipment. It was loaded into the aircraft using the An-124’s own overhead cranes.
"The transportation of space cargo is one of Volga-Dnepr’s key businesses and areas of specialisation, accounting for 34% of the airline’s flight operations," the airline said in a statement.
"In 2015, Volga-Dnepr operated 75 An-124-100 flights to deliver various types of space equipment, representing a 30% increase of this market sector over 2014. Last year, Volga-Dnepr Airlines delivered approximately 3,000 tons of space equipment."
