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Ariane 5 Rolls Out To The Launch Zone At Europe's Spaceport
Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Aug 14, 2008 The ELA-3 launch zone at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana is alive with activity for the fifth time this year, as the latest Ariane 5 is readied for its August 14 liftoff on a flight to orbit the Superbird-7 and AMC-21 telecommunications satellite payloads. Preparations for the mission entered their final phase this morning (August 13) after the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA was transferred from its Final Assembly Building to the Spaceport's ELA-3 launch complex. This process began at 10:30 a.m. local time, with the vehicle riding atop one of two mobile launch tables used for Ariane 5 mission operations. The transfer lasted approximately one hour as the launch table moved along a 2. 8-km. section of the dual-rail track that links the Spaceport's major infrastructure elements. With the Ariane 5 now in the launch zone, all is ready for the final countdown to liftoff during a launch window that opens tomorrow at 5:44 p.m. and continues to 6:35 p.m., local time in French Guiana. For this latest mission - the 41st for an Ariane 5 - the launcher's heavy-lift performance will be approximately 8,100 kg. - which includes more than 7,270 kg. For its two satellite payloads, along with their integration hardware and the SYLDA 5 multiple satellite dispenser system. During the flight, Superbird-7 will ride as the upper passenger, with AMC-21 installed below it in the SYLDA 5 dispenser. Superbird-7 will be deployed first during the launch profile, separating from Ariane 5 approximately 26 minutes into the flight. This Mitsubishi Electric Corporation-built spacecraft will be utilized by Tokyo-based Space Communications Corporation as a successor to its current Superbird-C satellite, and will provide a wide range of Ku-band telecommunications services with enhanced performance. AMC-21 also is a Ku-band relay platform, and the spacecraft is riding in the Ariane 5's lower payload position. It was manufactured by Thales Alenia Space incorporating the Orbital Sciences STAR-2 satellite bus, and is designed for comprehensive service over the 50 U.S. states, along with high-power coverage for the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Deployment of AMC-21 is to occur at about 30 minutes after the Ariane 5's liftoff. This latest flight will be Arianespace's fifth of seven missions planned for 2008 - making it the highest yearly launch rate since the vehicle's commercial introduction in 1999. Related Links Arianespace Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com
GeoEye's Next-Gen Satellite Launch Moves To September 4
Dulles VA (SPX) Aug 14, 2008GeoEye has announced that United Launch Alliance (ULA) has initiated a change in the target launch date for GeoEye-1 from August 22 to September 4, 2008. |
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