Arianespace Prepares for its Two Initial Ariane 5 Missions of 2008

(February 27, 2008) -- Preparations for the initial two Ariane 5 flights of 2008 are in full swing at Europe's Spaceport as Arianespace continues to demonstrate its ability to provide launch capacity and mission flexibility that meet customers' needs.

The two vehicles currently being readied at the Spaceport are an Ariane 5 ECA for an April liftoff with a pair of commercial telecommunications satellites, and the Ariane 5 ES for Arianespace's historic March 8 launch with the International Space Station's Automated Transfer Vehicle resupply spacecraft.

For the April mission, initial build-up of its Ariane 5 is nearing completion inside the Launcher Integration Building, where the cryogenic core stage has been mated with its two solid rocket boosters, and the cryogenic upper stage also has been installed.

This heavy-lift Ariane 5 is scheduled for liftoff during the first half of April, and will carry Vietnam's first telecommunications satellite, VINASAT-1, along with a second telecom platform on another of Arianespace's trademark dual-payload missions.

VINASAT-1 arrived in French Guiana earlier this week aboard an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft, and is now undergoing initial pre-launch checkout in one of the Spaceport's clean rooms. The spacecraft was produced by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems for the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation.

Based on Lockheed Martin's A2100A spacecraft platform, VINASAT-1 will improve telecommunications in Vietnam by providing radio, television and telephone communications coverage throughout the country. VINASAT-1 also will improve the nation's communications infrastructure by removing dependence on ground networks, and allowing 100 percent of Vietnam's rural communities and hamlets to be equipped with telephones and televisions. This C-/Ku-band hybrid satellite is designed for a minimum service life of 15 years, and will be located at an orbital slot of 132 deg. East after its deployment by Ariane 5.

As the Ariane 5 ECA mission preparations move ahead, final steps are being completed for Arianespace's March 8 mission with the European-built Automated Transfer Vehicle. The launch vehicle for this flight is in the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building, where integration of the Ariane 5 ES is complete and the last series of verifications are being performed.

Source : Arianespace

Recent News / Press releases from Arianespace

• Ariane 5 Orbits ProtoStar I and BADR-6 [Space] [ Tue 8 Jul 2008 ]
• The Spaceport's ELA-3 Launch Zone Receives its 4th Ariane 5 of 2008 [Space] [ Mon 7 Jul 2008 ]
• Payload Integration Complete for Arianespace's 4th Mission [Space] [ Tue 1 Jul 2008 ]
• ProtoStar I and BADR-6 Are Readied for Next Week's Launch [Space] [ Thu 26 Jun 2008 ]
• Maintaining Launch Tempo: Spaceport Receives its 5th Ariane of 2008 [Space] [ Wed 25 Jun 2008 ]
• 4th Ariane 5 of 2008 is Delivered to Arianespace [Space] [ Tue 24 Jun 2008 ]
• Protostar I is Fueled for its Ariane 5 Launch from the Spaceport [Space] [ Wed 18 Jun 2008 ]