Author Topic: Ariane VA210 - Star One C3 & Eutelsat21B/W6A November 10, 2012 (2105UTC)  (Read 42414 times)

Offline bolun

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Another Ariane 5 arrives in French Guiana: A photographer's view

August 22, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA210

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/947.asp
« Last Edit: 11/14/2012 11:47 am by Jester »

Offline bolun

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Re: Ariane Flight VA 210 - Star One C3 & W6A - November
« Reply #1 on: 09/08/2012 07:10 pm »
http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/947.asp

Quote
During separate activities on the same day, Flight VA209’s Ariane 5 was transferred from the Launcher Integration Building – where its basic assembly was performed – to the Final Assembly Building for installation of this mission’s two commercial relay satellites; while the vehicle for Flight VA210 was brought into the Spaceport after arriving by ship at nearby Pariacabo Port, completing a trans-Atlantic trip from Europe.

Offline bolun

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Re: Ariane Flight VA 210 - Star One C3 & W6A - November
« Reply #2 on: 09/08/2012 07:13 pm »
http://www.arianespace.com/news-feature-story/2012/9-7-2012.asp

Quote
Arianespace’s next launch in the company’s busy manifest will be Flight VA210, scheduled for early November from French Guiana with an Ariane 5 to loft the Star One C3 and W6A telecommunications satellites.  The vehicle for this mission is now undergoing assembly in the Spaceport’s Ariane 5 Launcher Integration Building, where its cryogenic core stage has been mated with the vehicle’s two solid propellant boosters. 

Offline bolun

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Re: Ariane Flight VA 210 - Star One C3 & W6A - November
« Reply #3 on: 10/06/2012 11:45 am »

Offline Nicolas PILLET

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Re: Ariane Flight VA 210 - Star One C3 & W6A - November, 2012
« Reply #4 on: 10/09/2012 03:45 pm »
I was told W6A landed yesterday (8th october) in Felix Eboué airport.
Nicolas PILLET
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Offline Adonis1

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Re: Ariane Flight VA 210 - Star One C3 & W6A - November, 2012
« Reply #5 on: 10/09/2012 07:24 pm »
http://www.eutelsat.com/news/compress/en/2012/pdf/PR%206412%20E21B.pdf

EUTELSAT 21B arrives in Kourou. Readies for Ariane launch on November 9.

Paris, 9 October 2012 – The EUTELSAT 21B satellite of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) has arrived in Kourou, French Guiana, and is now being prepared for launch on November 9 by Arianespace on board an Ariane 5 rocket (Flight VA210).
Lift-off is planned from 22.05 (CET) at the beginning of a launch window lasting 106 minutes. Weighing 5 tons at lift-off, EUTELSAT 21B has been built for Eutelsat by Thales Alenia Space using its established Spacebus 4000 platform. The satellite is designed to operate in orbit for 15 years.
The 40-transponder Ku-band satellite will occupy the 21.5° East position developed by Eutelsat since 1999 into a location of choice for telcos, enterprises and government administrations operating in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. Its deployment will enable Eutelsat to boost capacity at this sought-after location by almost
50%. Eutelsat’s newest satellite will replace EUTELSAT 21A which will subsequently be redeployed to another location for continued commercial service.
The launch will be videostreamed live on www.eutelsat.com

Online jacqmans

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Re: Ariane Flight VA 210 - Star One C3 & W6A - November, 2012
« Reply #6 on: 10/10/2012 07:27 pm »
An Ariane 5 mission joins the current launch preparation activities for Arianespace in French Guiana


October 10, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA210
 
Preparations are now fully underway for Arianespace’s upcoming heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission scheduled in early November at the Spaceport – underscoring the company’s launcher family operational flexibility, as this activity is in parallel with ongoing final checkout of a medium-lift Soyuz vehicle that will depart from French Guiana on Friday.
 
The Ariane 5 flight is designated VA210 in Arianespace’s mission numbering system, and it will orbit two telecommunications relay satellites: EUTELSAT 21B for Europe’s Eutelsat Communications, and Star One C3 for Star One S.A. of Brazil.
 
EUTELSAT 21B arrived this week in French Guiana, delivered by a chartered cargo jetliner that touched down at Cayenne’s Félix Eboué Airport on October 8.  The VA210 mission’s Ariane 5 was transferred yesterday from the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building to the Final Assembly Building, where it will be readied to receive the two satellite passengers.
 
With a liftoff mass of five metric tons, EUTELSAT 21B has a 15-year in-orbit design life and was built for Eutelsat by Thales Alenia Space using the Spacebus 4000 platform.   This 40-transponder Ku-band satellite will operate from Eutelsat’s 21.5° East orbital position, which has been developed since 1999 as a relay location for telephone companies, enterprises and government administrations in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.  EUTELSAT 21B’s deployment will enable Eutelsat to boost capacity at this orbital slot by almost 50 percent.

 VA210 will mark the 210th flight of an Ariane-series vehicle since the launcher family’s startup of operations in 1979, and is to be Arianespace’s sixth Ariane 5 mission so far in 2012.
 
The VA210 launcher activity is centered at the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch complex for Ariane 5, which is separated from the ELS facility used for Soyuz operations at French Guiana.  By design, the Spaceport is able to carry out flight preparations in parallel with the heavy-lift Ariane 5, medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega, enabling Arianespace to fully benefit from the availability of its complete launcher family.
 
In addition to ongoing actions for the VA210 mission – which is scheduled for liftoff on November 9 – the Spaceport also is ready for this Friday’s launch of the Arianespace Soyuz VS03 mission, carrying two European Galileo navigation satellites on the Russian-built vehicle’s third flight from French Guiana.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/962.asp
« Last Edit: 10/10/2012 07:28 pm by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

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Star One C3 is at the Spaceport for Arianespace's next Ariane 5 launch


October 17, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA210
 
Both payloads for Arianespace's sixth Ariane 5 mission of 2012 are now in French Guiana following this month's delivery of the Star One C3 relay platform – which will join its EUTELSAT 21B co-passenger on the next heavy-lift flight.
 
Star One C3 arrived at Cayenne's Félix Eboué Airport aboard a chartered cargo jetliner for its transfer to the Spaceport – where EUTELSAT 21B has been undergoing its own pre-launch preparations since the second week in October.
 
The Star One C3 spacecraft was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation based on the company's GEOStar™ bus, and carries a hybrid payload to provide C- and Ku-band communications for the South American region. It features a pair of 2.3-meter deployable reflectors and one 1.4-meter Earth deck-mounted antenna, and is designed to generate approximately five kilowatts of payload power over a mission life greater than 15 years.

Star One C3 will be operated by Brazil-based satellite communications service provider Star One S.A. following its launch on Arianespace's upcoming Ariane 5 mission – which is planned for liftoff from the Spaceport on November 9.

It will be orbited along with the EUTELSAT 21B telecommunications spacecraft, which was produced for Europe's Eutelsat Communications by Thales Alenia Space.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/966.asp
Jacques :-)

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EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 are prepared for Arianespace's November launch of Ariane 5

October 23, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA210
 
The two satellite passengers to be carried on Arianespace’s Flight VA210 – the sixth Ariane 5 mission of 2012 from French Guiana – are undergoing checkout at the Spaceport for their November 9 liftoff.
 
Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Star One C3 spacecraft for Brazilian communications service provider Star One S.A. has begun its pre-launch processing in the S5 payload preparation facility, joining the Thales Alenia Space-built EUTELSAT 21B for Europe’s Eutelsat Communications – which currently is being fueled.
 
EUTELSAT 21B will have a liftoff mass of five metric tons, carrying 40 Ku-band transponders on its Spacebus 4000 platform.  To operate at Eutelsat’s 21.5° East orbital position, the satellite will enable Eutelsat to boost capacity at this orbital slot by almost 50 percent – providing relay services for telephone companies, enterprises and government administrations in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. 
 
Star One C3 is based on Orbital’s GEOStar™ bus, and is to weigh in at under 3,200 kg.  It is fitted with a hybrid payload to provide C- and Ku-band communications for the South American region.
 
Arianespace’s five Ariane 5 missions conducted to date in 2012 from French Guiana have orbited eight satellites and one Automated Transfer Vehicle for servicing of the International Space Station. 

In addition to these heavy-lift flights, the company performed one medium-lift Soyuz mission so far this year from the Spaceport, lofting a pair of Galileo navigation system IOV (In-Orbit Validation) spacecraft, while a Soyuz launch conducted by Arianespace’s Starsem affiliate from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome deployed the Metop-B weather satellite.

Adding to the 2012 activity was Arianespace’s support for the successful qualification launch of its light-lift Vega vehicle from French Guiana, with this maiden mission performed under responsibility of the European Space Agency.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/967.asp
« Last Edit: 10/24/2012 07:39 am by jacqmans »
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Ariane 5s are readied in parallel for Arianespace's next heavy-lift flights

October 31, 2012 – Ariane Flights VA210 & VA211
 
Launch vehicle preparations for the next two Ariane 5 flights from French Guiana are moving forward at the Spaceport as Arianespace maintains the mission pace in 2012 with its heavy-lift workhorse.
 
Activity conducted this week included installation of customer graphics on the payload fairing for Ariane Flight VA210, which is to orbit the EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 telecommunications satellites on a launch scheduled for November 9. 


As with all Ariane 5 flights, the vehicle’s ogive-shaped payload fairing – which protects its spacecraft passengers during ascent through the denser atmospheric layers – is made available for logos and other images that represent the mission's customers and their satellites. The fairing is jettisoned approximately three minutes after an Ariane 5’s liftoff.
 
For Flight VA210, team members working in the Ariane 5’s Final Assembly Building placed large decals on the fairing with the Eutelsat logo and an artistic representation of EUTELSAT 21B’s coverage area, along with a red and white logo for the Star One C3 satellite.
 
Preparations for these two upcoming launches continue a busy year for Arianespace’s heavy-lift Ariane 5. Previous missions during 2012 lofted Europe’s third Automated Transfer Vehicle for servicing of the International Space Station on March 23; the JCSAT-13 and VINASAT-2 telecommunications spacecraft on May 15; a mixed telecommunications/meteorological satellite payload of EchoStar XVII and MSG-3 on July 5; the Intelsat 20 and HYLAS 2 relay platforms on August 2; and the ASTRA 2F and GSAT-10 spacecraft on September 28. 

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/971.asp
« Last Edit: 11/03/2012 08:10 am by jacqmans »
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Arianespace’s heavy-lift Ariane 5 flight is cleared for liftoff with EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3

November 7, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA210

The sixth heavy-lift Ariane 5 flight for Arianespace in 2012 has been given the “go” for liftoff on Friday following today’s successful launch readiness review at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

 This milestone – which is held prior to each Arianespace mission – confirms that the heavy-lift launch vehicle and its payload are flight-ready, along with the readiness of Spaceport’s infrastructure and the downrange tracking station network.
 
The Ariane 5 therefore is cleared for its rollout tomorrow from the Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone, where it will be readied for liftoff on November 9 during a launch window that opens at 6:05 p.m. local time in French Guiana.
 
Satellite passengers for this flight – designated VA210 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system – are EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3.  Payload lift performance for the Ariane 5 is estimated at 9,215 kg. – which includes 8,250 kg. for the two satellites, along with the launcher’s dual-passenger dispenser system and integration hardware.
 
Produced for Eutelsat Communications by Thales Alenia Space, the EUTELSAT 21B satellite will provide Ku-band telecommunications, data and broadband services over Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
 
Orbital Sciences Corporation built the Star One C3 relay platform for Brazil’s Star One telecommunications operator, and it is to offer C- and Ku-band capacity for the Brazil and Andean region of South America.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/973.asp
Jacques :-)

Offline Lewis007

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Arianespace launch kit

Offline Lewis007

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Animation clip of VA 210 launch and StarOne-C3 deployment.

Source: http://www.starone.com.br/en/internas/biblioteca/galeria.jsp
(this site also contains some pix of the launch processing)

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Ariane 5 is poised for Arianespace’s launch with the EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 satellites

November 8, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA210

 Arianespace’s Ariane 5 mission campaign with the EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 telecommunications satellites has moved into the final phase following today’s rollout of its heavy-lift vehicle to the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone in French Guiana.
 
Riding atop one of two operational mobile launch tables available for Ariane 5, this workhorse launcher was transferred from the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building – where its dual payload had been integrated last week. 
 
With today’s rollout completed, the final countdown will begin for an evening liftoff tomorrow during a launch window that opens at 6:05 p.m. local time in French Guiana and continues until 7:51 p.m.
 
This will be the 66th Ariane 5 liftoff, and the 210th flight of an Ariane family vehicle.  It maintains Arianespace’s sustained mission pace, coming after the five other Ariane 5 launches performed so far in 2012.
 
After being lofted by Ariane 5, EUTELSAT 21B will operate for Eutelsat Communications at 21.5° East – a major orbital position for data, professional video and government services, with coverage over Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.  The spacecraft was built by Thales Alenia Space.
 
Increasing the relay capacity with EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3
 
EUTELSAT 21B will offer significantly increased capacity, incorporating 40 Ku-band transponders compared to 29 on the EUTELSAT 21A relay platform it is to succeed, while offering improved power and coverage. In addition to an enhanced widebeam across Europe into North Africa and Central Asia, this satellite also features two dedicated high-power beams covering northwest Africa and the Middle East/Central Asia regions.
 
Star One C3 is the newest member in the third generation of satellites for Brazil’s Star One – an Embratel company.  Produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation with 28 C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders, the satellite will replace the Brasilsat B3 satellite, currently operating at the 75º W orbital position.
 
With a footprint encompassing Miami and the entire South America region – including the Andean countries of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela – Star One C3 will expand the capacity and coverage for TV, data and voice transmission services.
 
Additionally, Star One C3’s reach will span the waters under Brazilian jurisdiction to the pre-salt area – the group of rocks located in marine portions of the country’s coast, where there is potential for exploiting accumulations of oil.  By providing coverage in this area, the satellite offers better communication possibilities for the oil and gas industry.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/974.asp
« Last Edit: 11/08/2012 08:48 pm by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

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Moved for live coverage.
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Offline Adonis1

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WATCH THE LAUNCH LIVE

The video retransmission starts at 20.50 GMT (21.50 CET) on November 9. You can watch the launch via:

1) Webcast: www.arianespace.tv >

2) EUTELSAT HOT BIRD at 13° East
Transponder 120
Frequency: 10911 MHz
Vertical Polarization
Symbol rate : 27500 (27.5 Msymbol/s)
DVB-S2
8PSK
FEC 3/4
Signal in Standard Definition 16/9
Service name : Eutelsat 21B (replacing "WTF")
Service ID: 15912
Video PID: 1638
Audio 1 PID: 2456 (English)
Audio 2 PID: 2457 (French / Français)

3) EUTELSAT 10A (ex W2A) at 10° East
Frequency: 11106.5 MHz
Vertical Polarization
Symbol rate : 6.6665 Msymbol/s
DVB-S
QPSK
FEC 7/8
Signal in Standard Definition 16/9
Audio 1: English commentary
Audio 2: Commentaire en français

http://www.eutelsat.com/satellites/EUTELSAT-21B.html

Offline spacejulien

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I just heard that the launch is going to be postponed to Saturday, due to high altitude winds. But no confirmation for the scrub on AE website, yet.
Posts I contribute here reflect my personal view only; they do not necessarily reflect any official position or opinion of my employer.

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Thanks for the update!
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Arianespace Flight VA210: Ariane 5 ECA – EUTELSAT 21B – STAR ONE C3; Launch postponed by 24 hours
 
Kourou, November 9, 2012
 
CNES informed Arianespace that the weather conditions are unfavorable over the Guiana Space Center in Kourou. Arianespace has decided to postpone Flight 210 by 24 hours. Flight 210 will place into geostationary transfer orbit the EUTELSAT 21B and STAR ONE C3 telecommunication satellites.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2012/11-9-2012-VA210-launch-postponed-24h.asp
Jacques :-)

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There we go. Thanks!
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High-altitude wind conditions delay Ariane 5's dual-passenger launch
 
November 9, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA210

 Arianespace’s heavy-lift Ariane 5 launch with the EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 telecommunications satellites has been postponed 24 hours due to unfavorable weather conditions in French Guiana.
 
High-altitude winds over the Spaceport’s launch site exceeded the limits that are part of safety conditions for every Ariane 5 mission, leading to the postponement decision.
 
The Ariane 5 and its two satellite passengers are in a “safe” mode at the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone, ready for a resumption of the final countdown. 

This flight’s launch window remains the same for tomorrow, opening at 6:05 p.m. local time in French Guiana and continuing to 7:51 p.m.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/976.asp
Jacques :-)

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In the meantime, let's enjoy this large collection of pre-launch processing photos!  ;D (there are also photos from the last few launches in the same account)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkpro/sets/72157631799506712/
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Offline Adonis1

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The launch window for Arianespace’s VA210 mission – now scheduled for Saturday, November 10 – opens at 6:05 p.m. (French Guiana time)


http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2012/11-9-2012-VA210-launch-postponed-24h.asp

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The launch window for Arianespace’s VA210 mission – now scheduled for Saturday, November 10 – opens at 6:05 p.m. (French Guiana time)


http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2012/11-9-2012-VA210-launch-postponed-24h.asp

T-4 hrs 40 min.
2017 - Everything Old is New Again.
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Offline spacejulien

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Meteo is foreseen to be green at time of lift-off.

Cryogenic tanks filling is ongoing.
« Last Edit: 11/10/2012 04:49 pm by spacejulien »
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Final countdown for Arianespace's Flight VA210

November 10, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA210

 The final countdown is underway for Arianespace’s sixth Ariane 5 launch of 2012, which will carry the EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 telecommunications satellites into geostationary transfer orbit.
 
This mission is to be performed from the ELA-3 launch complex at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, deploying the two passengers during a flight of 33 minutes.
 
Total payload lift performance for the heavy-lift mission is approximately 9,215 kg., which includes 8,250 kg for the two passengers to be released into geostationary transfer orbit, along with the launcher’s dual-payload dispenser system and integration hardware. 

Arianespace’s previous Ariane 5 missions during 2012 lofted the ASTRA 2F and GSAT-10 relay platforms on September 28; the Intelsat 20 and HYLAS 2 telecom satellites on August 2; a mixed telecommunications/meteorological payload of EchoStar XVII and MSG-3 on July 5; the JCSAT-13 and VINASAT-2 telecommunications spacecraft on May 15; and Europe’s third Automated Transfer Vehicle for servicing of the International Space Station on March 23.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/977-countdown.asp
« Last Edit: 11/10/2012 06:18 pm by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

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1hr 15 min to broadcast.
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From Arianespace Twitter:

Ariane 5 fueling is underway for today's Arianespace Flight #VA210 from the Spaceport in French Guiana. #ariane5
Jacques :-)

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Ariane 5 flight VA210 on the launchpad

Ahead of its launch on 9 November 2012, Ariane 5 flight VA210 fully rolled out to the launchpad at CSG, Kourou, French Guiana. VA210 will carry two satellites into orbit, Eutelsat 21B and Star One C3, and will make 52 successful launches in a row for Ariane 5.

Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG
Jacques :-)

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Is this going to be another beautiful sunset launch, or is it too late for that?

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Is this going to be another beautiful sunset launch, or is it too late for that?

Roughly 5 minutes before sunset if they go at the top of the window.
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« Last Edit: 11/10/2012 07:56 pm by Prober »
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"Now you may leave here for four days in space, but when you return it's the same old place..."

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« Last Edit: 11/10/2012 08:04 pm by Prober »
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T-7 minutes. Into the synchronized sequence.
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Looks like it will be a very nice-looking launch.
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Looking good so far!
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T-2 minutes.
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T-60 seconds. Go Ariane!
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T-60 seconds.
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LAUNCH!!
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Liftoff!
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"Now you may leave here for four days in space, but when you return it's the same old place..."

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Pitch and roll.
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"Now you may leave here for four days in space, but when you return it's the same old place..."

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MaxQ
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"Now you may leave here for four days in space, but when you return it's the same old place..."

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SRB sep.
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Booster Sep.
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Nice graphics.
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2017 - Everything Old is New Again.
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Fairing sep.
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Acquisition by Natal tracking station.

Trading altitude for downrange.
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Staging and second stage ignition.
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1-2 Sep. Second stage ignition.
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Acquired by Ascension tracking station.
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Altitude increasing again.
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Vehicle acquired by Libreville tracking station.
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Cranking through the customer videos...

Altitude 312.4 km, veloctiy 8.80 km/s.
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Acquisition by Malindi tracking station.
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Second stage shutdown. Now reorienting for Eutelsat sep.
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Eutelsat 21B separation!
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« Last Edit: 11/10/2012 08:39 pm by Prober »
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SYLDA sep.

Reorienting for Star One sep.
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Arianespace Flight VA210: Liftoff!
 

November 10, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA210

Ariane 5 has lifted off on its 66th mission, carrying the EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 telecommunications satellites on Arianespace’s sixth heavy-lift mission of 2012.
 
The two payloads are to be deployed by Ariane 5 during a flight of 33 minutes.
 
Once in its orbital position of 21.5° East, EUTELSAT 21B will operate for the European-based Eutelsat Communications – providing coverage for data, professional video and government services over Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. 

Star One C3 will join the fleet of Brazil’s Star One – an Embratel company – with a footprint encompassing Miami and the entire South America region – including the Andean countries of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela.  To be located at 75º West, this satellite will expand the capacity and coverage for TV, data and voice transmission services.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/va210-liftoff.asp
Jacques :-)

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Star One C3 separation!

Congratulations to everyone involved!
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Post launch speeches - Arianespace CEO first.
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Nicely done! Congrats to all involved. And thanks to Nick and Prober for the coverage!
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Speaker for Embratel.
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"Now you may leave here for four days in space, but when you return it's the same old place..."

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With this speaker speaking in Portuguese, then being translated to French, and then again to English, sentence by sentence, it's taking quite a while..
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Webcast ending.
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 Congrats to all the teams! Thanks for the great coverage.  :)
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Maintaining Arianespace's 2012 launch cadence: Ariane 5 orbits the EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 satellites

November 10, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA210

 Two telecommunications satellites that will provide expanded relay capacity over areas that include Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South America were orbited today by Arianespace on the company’s sixth Ariane 5 flight of 2012.
 
Lifting off on time at 6:05 p.m. from the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch complex in French Guiana, the heavy-lift workhorse deployed its EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 spacecraft passengers during a 33-minute mission.  It was the 66th flight of an Ariane 5 and the 210th launch of a European-built Ariane family vehicle, maintaining Arianespace’s sustained mission pace in 2012.
 
“This continues our series of records with the 52nd consecutive of our Ariane 5 launcher, which represents a reliability level that is unequaled in our industry and guarantees European access to space for the benefit of our institutional and commercial customers,” said Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall after today’s success.
 
EUTELSAT 21B was the 26th satellite launched by Arianespace for the European-based Eutelsat telecommunications operator, while Star One C3 marked the ninth Brazilian telecommunications platform that Arianespace has orbited.
 
The EUTELSAT 21B spacecraft was built by Thales Alenia Space and will offer significantly increased capacity for data, professional video and government services when compared to EUTELSAT 21A relay platform it is to succeed.  The new satellite’s 40 Ku-band transponders provide improved power and coverage, incorporating an enhanced widebeam for coverage across Europe into North Africa and Central Asia, while also featuring two dedicated high-power beams covering northwest Africa and the Middle East/Central Asia regions.
 
Star One C3’s coverage encompasses Miami and the entire South America region – including the Andean countries of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela – enabling its Brazilian-based Star One operator to expand the capacity and coverage for TV, data and voice transmission services.

Produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation, Star One C3 has 28 C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders, enabling this satellite to replace the Brasilsat B3 satellite currently operating at the 75º W orbital position.  In addition, Star One C3’s will reach the offshore waters under Brazilian jurisdiction to the pre-salt area, where new oil fields are planned for exploitation.
 
Today’s Ariane 5 flight delivered a total payload lift performance of approximately 9,215 kg., which included 8,250 kg for the two passengers released into geostationary transfer orbit, along with the launcher’s dual-payload dispenser system and integration hardware. 

“I wish to thank all of those in Europe, as well as in French Guiana, who develop, produce and operate our launcher, and to tell them that today’s success is their success, once again enabling us to win the confidence of our customers and to reinforce our position,” Le Gall added in his post-launch concluding remarks.  “In addition, the new orders we’ve booked since start of this year are truly remarkable, demonstrating how Ariane is by far – and has been for a long time – the launcher that is preferred by operators worldwide.”
 
Arianespace will continue its busy year of launch activity in 2012, with the next mission planned for November 30, using a medium-lift Soyuz to orbit the French Pléiades 1B dual-use, very-high-resolution satellite.  This will be the fourth flight of a Soyuz from the French Guiana since its introduction at the Spaceport in October 2011.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/978-success.asp
Jacques :-)

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Arianespace launch a success: Ariane 5 ECA orbits Eutelsat 21B and Star One C3 satellites
 
Kourou, November 10, 2012
 
On Saturday, November 10, 2012, Arianespace successfully carried out the 52nd Ariane 5 launch in a row, orbiting two telecommunications satellites: Eutelsat 21B for the European operator Eutelsat, and Star One C3 for the American manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation and the Brazilian operator Star One.
 
66th Ariane 5 mission, 52nd successful launch in a row
 
Today's successful mission, the 52nd in a row for the European launcher, once again proves the reliability and availability of the Ariane 5 launch system. It also confirms that Arianespace sets the global standard, guaranteeing independent access to space for all customers, including national and international space agencies, private operators and governments.

Arianespace's latest successful mission, the sixth Ariane 5 launch in 2012, also further confirms the European launch system's operational capabilities. Ariane 5 is the only commercial satellite launcher now on the market capable of simultaneously launching two payloads and handling a complete range of missions, from launches of commercial satellites into geostationary orbit, to dedicated launches into special orbits.

A launch for two leading operators
 
Arianespace offers the launch services that best match the demanding requirements of leading operators worldwide.

Arianespace and Eutelsat have developed an exceptional and uninterrupted relationship over the last 27 years, with two thirds of the Eutelsat fleet orbited by the European launcher. Eutelsat 21B was the 26th satellite launched by Arianespace for Eutelsat.

Star One C3 is the ninth Brazilian satellite to use the European launcher, following the six Brasilsat satellites and Star One C1 and C2. Star One is the largest satellite service provider in Latin America. 
 
Eutelsat 21B/Star One C3 mission at a glance
 
The mission was carried out by an Ariane 5 ECA launcher from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Liftoff was on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 6:05 pm local time in Kourou (7:05 pm in Rio de Janeiro, 4:05 pm in Washington, D.C., 21:05 UT and 10:05 pm in Paris).

Eutelsat 21B, built by Thales Alenia Space using a Spacebus 4000C3 platform, weighed 5,012 kg at launch. It is fitted with 40 active Ku-band transponders, and will be positioned at 21.5 degrees East. Eutelsat 21B will deliver telecommunications and data transmission services for businesses and governments in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, western Africa and Central Asia. It offers a design life exceeding 15 years.

Star One C3, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, Virginia, is based on a Star-2 platform. It weighed 3,227 kg at liftoff. Star One C3 will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 75 or 84 degrees West. Equipped with 28 C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders, it will provide direct TV broadcast, telephone and long-distance domestic communications services for Brazil and South America. Star One C3 has a design life of 15 years.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2012/va210-success.asp
Jacques :-)

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Ariane 5’s sixth launch of 2012

10 November 2012

This evening, an Ariane 5 launcher lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place two telecommunications satellites, Eutelsat-21B and Star One-C3, into their planned transfer orbits.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMIZU62Q8H_index_0.html
 
Jacques :-)

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- Aaron

Online Galactic Penguin SST

Any Astrium guys here? You guys are inadvertently making UFOs in China!  ::)

Some guys in different places in south-western China were making observations on the same day of this launch when they saw something like a bluish reflection moving slowly in the dark sky east of Sirius at about an hour after the launch (~22:20 UTC), and it was so strange that it make quite a detailed discussion at a Chinese astronomy forum, eventually making to the news two days ago! Luckily the detailed analysis of the height of the UFO and the timing of observation leads me to conclude that this was the ESC-A upper stage 30 minutes after all the fuel leaked out via passification. This was essentially confirmed after I pulled out old TLEs and running through a satellite prediction software.

Some detailed discussion here (in Chinese):  http://www.astronomy.com.cn/bbs/thread-246548-1-1.html
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The 'Star One-C3' Brazilian satellite was renamed 'Star One-C3 Rio 2016' in honor of the 2016 Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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