Author Topic: LIVE: Ariane 5 ECA launch - Amazonas-2 / COMSATBw-1 - October 1, 2009  (Read 60564 times)

Offline anik

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Build-up begins for the fifth Ariane 5 to be launched in 2009
July 24, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/616.asp (with images)

The Spaceport is once again hosting two parallel Ariane 5 mission campaigns in support of Arianespace’s goal to perform a record seven flights this year with its workhorse heavy-lift launcher.

A fifth Ariane 5 for 2009 began taking shape this week in the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building, starting with the core cryogenic stage’s erection and the mating of its initial solid propellant booster. The activity is in parallel with ongoing preparations for the year’s fourth Ariane 5 mission, which will be performed in August with a vehicle that currently is in the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building. 
« Last Edit: 10/01/2009 01:24 pm by Chris Bergin »

Offline Analyst

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They have really invested into infrastructure. Unlike EELV operations.

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Offline Verio Fryar

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They have really invested into infrastructure. Unlike EELV operations.

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I think this is where the off-pad integration of both vehicle and payload really pays back.

Offline Analyst

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Yes. And having more than one mobile launch platform, integration cell etc.

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Offline yinzer

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The Ariane 5 launch architecture is pipelined - the prelaunch processing is split into launcher buildup and payload integration / fueling.  But AFAIK there is still only one  place to store a fully integrated vehicle/payload, so delays will still either propagate downstream or result in a destacking.

In theory the Delta IV should work the same way.  In practice they may have moved some of the processing to the pad and their payloads tend to be much more finicky than the typical comsat flown on Ariane so the pad acts as a bottleneck anyway.

The one launcher and one VIF for Atlas V limit it to purely sequential processing.  Of course, this is probably a part of the reason why the Atlas V ended up being cheaper than the Delta IV.
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Offline Analyst

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AFAIK you are not correct. They don't have to destack the vehicle. Look at the picture above: They are already stacking the vehicle to be launched after the next one, including solid boosters. They will have two integrated vehicles with boosters at the same time, (almost) ready to roll to the pad. Delta IV can't do this, nor can Atlas V.

Not every payload on an EELV is more complex than two comsats on Ariane V. In fact, many EELV payloads are (militray) comsats.

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Offline yinzer

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Once the payload is on the booster, though, there's only one building that can hold it.  If someone else wants to go first, they have to destack, unlike with a pad A/B setup.  Delta has the horizontal checkout building where multiple vehicles can be being brought to T-(some short time) at once, and does the payload encapsulation in parallel.

I said finicky, not complex. If you aren't ready to go, Arianespace won't put you on the rocket. None of this sitting on the pad for six months waiting for the NRO to figure something out. 
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Offline Analyst

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Once the payload is on the booster, though, there's only one building that can hold it. 

Yes. And this does happen at T-10 or less days at Ariane. Until then, you can switch launch vehicles. Destacking would be payload removing. Major processing advantage for Ariane.

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Offline anik

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Initial assembly is completed for the fifth Ariane 5 to be launched in 2009
August 3, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/617.asp

The fifth Ariane 5 for launch this year has completed its initial build-up as preparations move forward for another of Arianespace’s trademark dual-satellite payload missions.

During activity in the Launcher Integration Building at Europe’s Spaceport, this heavy-lift Ariane 5 was fitted with its ESC-A upper stage and vehicle equipment bay – which were installed as a single unit. The combined integration step is part of the streamlining introduced in Ariane 5’s build-up process to optimize the preparation workflow and accelerate Arianespace’s mission rate for its workhorse vehicle.

Once additional integration and checkout steps are completed, the Ariane 5 will be ready for its transfer from the Launcher Integration Building to the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, where it will be fitted with the mission’s payload of two telecommunications satellites.

The Final Assembly Building currently is occupied by the no. 4 Ariane 5 to be launched in 2009, which is scheduled for a liftoff later this month with the Optus D3 and JCSAT-12 relay spacecraft.

Offline jacqmans

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Arianespace’s next mission – the 191st flight for a member of the Ariane family – will utilize an Ariane 5 ECA that has completed its build-up in the Launcher Integration Building.  This vehicle is now ready for its transfer to the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/630.asp
Jacques :-)

Offline anik

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Amazonas 2 is delivered to the Spaceport for Arianespace’s fifth launch of 2009
August 28, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/631.asp

The initial passenger for Arianespace’s fifth Ariane 5 mission of this year was delivered to French Guiana today following a trans-Atlantic cargo flight from Europe.

HISPASAT’s Amazonas 2 telecommunications relay satellite arrived this morning aboard an Antonov An-124 jetliner, which landed at Cayenne’s Rochambeau International Airport.  It will now begin final preparations for liftoff in late September on a dual-payload Ariane 5 mission.

Amazonas 2 is based on EADS Astrium’s Eurostar E3000 spacecraft bus and will have a mass at liftoff of 5,400 kg.  Its payload consists of 64 active transponders – 54 for operation in Ku-band, and the other 10 in C-band – providing additional capacity for HISPASAT’s service over the Americas, with coverage from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.

The Madrid, Spain-based HISPASAT was established in 1989 with the goal of becoming the leading satellite operator for the Spanish and Portuguese language markets.  Since then, the company has developed its satellite fleet – with Arianespace contributing its launch services in orbiting three spacecraft: Hispasat 1B in 1993, XTAR-EUR in 2005 and Spainsat in 2006.

Joining Amazonas 2 on Arianespace’s upcoming Ariane 5 flight in September will be the GMS military communications satellite for Germany.  This mission will continue the company's sustained launch rate, with Arianespace targeting a total of seven Ariane 5 flights in 2009 – the busiest year of activity since the workhorse vehicle entered commercial service in 1999.

The four Ariane 5 flights already performed in 2009 have orbited a combined payload mass of more than 26,000 kg.  Arianespace’s most recent launch was on August 21, which lofted the JCSAT-12 and Optus D3 telecom payloads.  It was preceded by a record-setting Ariane 5 performance on July 1 with the heavyweight TerreStar-1 mobile communications spacecraft, while a launch on May 14 carried Europe’s Herschel and Planck deep space telescopes.  Arianespace’s first flight of 2009 was on February 12, orbiting the HOT BIRD™ 10 and NSS-9 commercial telecommunications satellites, along with two French military Spirale auxiliary passengers.

Offline Mighty-T

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This flight should be the 200th orbital launch from the European spaceport in Guyana. So far there were the following launches:

8   Diamant B
1   Europa 2
11  Ariane 1
6   Ariane 2
11  Ariane 3
116 Ariane 4
46  Ariane 5
-----------
199 launches

anyone to confirm?

Offline William Graham

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This flight should be the 200th orbital launch from the European spaceport in Guyana. So far there were the following launches:

8   Diamant B
1   Europa 2
11  Ariane 1
6   Ariane 2
11  Ariane 3
116 Ariane 4
46  Ariane 5
-----------
199 launches

anyone to confirm?

The Europa failed to orbit (or are you counting failures as well).
« Last Edit: 08/31/2009 12:49 pm by GW_Simulations »

Offline ckiki lwai

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I see you counted other failures to reach orbit as well, so it will be the 200th orbital launch attempt.

This would be the list of successful orbital launches:
6   Diamant B
0   Europa 2
9  Ariane 1
5   Ariane 2
10  Ariane 3
113 Ariane 4
42  Ariane 5
------------
185 successful orbital launches

So we have to wait another 2 years or so for the 200th successful orbital launch.

Anyways, this year will be very special because December 24 will be the 30th anniversary of the first launch of Ariane 1!
Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events. - Robert Heinlein

Offline jacqmans

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The fifth Ariane 5 for launch in 2009 is received by Arianespace
September 1, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/632.asp

Arianespace is continuing its sustained mission pace by taking delivery of the fifth heavy-lift Ariane 5 to be launched from the Spaceport in French Guiana during 2009.

This milestone occurred yesterday with the Ariane 5’s transfer from the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building – where its basic build-up was performed by industrial prime contractor EADS Astrium, to the Final Assembly Building – where Arianespace will handle the payload installation.

(In the photo at right, the Ariane 5 is shown during its rollout process, with the Launcher Integration Building visible in the background.  The vehicle is mounted on one of two mobile launch tables available for Ariane 5, and the transfer was made using the Spaceport’s dual-rail network infrastructure).

For the upcoming flight, Arianespace will perform another of its trademark dual-passenger missions – orbiting the Amazonas 2 telecommunications satellite for Spain’s HISPASAT, and the GMS military communications satellite for Germany.
Jacques :-)

Offline Spiff

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 Pre-launch processing of Amazonas 2 is underway for Arianespace's next Ariane 5 mission

September 2, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/633.asp

The first-arrived payload for Ariane 5’s next flight is undergoing initial checkout at the Spaceport in French Guiana as preparations move forward for Arianespace’s dual-passenger mission later this month – which will be its fifth heavy-lift launch of 2009.

Amazonas 2 is in the Spaceport’s S5 satellite preparation facility, having been removed from the shipping container that protected this EADS Astrium-built spacecraft during its trans-Atlantic voyage from Europe aboard a cargo jetliner last week.

Weighing approximately 5,500 kg. at liftoff, Amazonas 2 will be injected into geostationary transfer orbit by Ariane 5, and is to operate from a final orbital slot of 61 deg. West.  The satellite is based on EADS Astrium’s Eurostar E3000 spacecraft bus, which will supply a payload power of about 14 kW.

Amazonas 2 will provide the Spanish-based HISPASAT telecommunications operator with relay capacity over the Americas, with its coverage area extending from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.   The spacecraft is designed for a useful lifetime of 15 years, and is to handle a wide range of communications services – including direct-to-home television – through its 54 Ku-band transponders and 10 C-band transponders.

Riding with Amazonas 2 on the upcoming Ariane 5 mission will be Germany’s COMSATBw-1 military telecommunications satellite.   COMSATBw-1 is part of a secure information network to supply voice, fax and advanced data, video and multimedia applications for the German armed forces, including units on deployed missions.  EADS Astrium is prime contractor for this program’s space segment, which is composed of two satellites based on the Spacebus platform.

Arianespace’s late September launch with Amazonas 2 and COMSATBw-1 is part of the company’s sustained Ariane 5 mission pace – which calls for a total of seven flights with the workhorse heavy-lift vehicle this year.  It will make 2009 the busiest year since Ariane 5’s commercial service introduction by Arianespace in 1999.

Ariane 5’s four missions performed so far in 2009 have orbited a combined payload mass of more than 26,000 kg.  These launches have lofted five commercial telecommunications satellites for operators in Europe, Asia and North America, along with two European deep space telescopes and a pair of French demonstrator spacecraft for a future defense early warning system.
I always consider space to be the FIRST frontier.

Offline anik

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Germany’s COMSATBw-1 military communications satellite is readied for its launch on Ariane 5
September 4, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/634.asp

The German military communications satellite passenger for Arianespace’s upcoming Ariane 5 flight has arrived in French Guiana to begin its pre-launch processing in preparation for a liftoff later this month.

COMSATBw-1 is a secure relay platform that will play an important role in the German Bundeswehr’s (German armed forces) concept for network-centric operations.  It is to handle secure information for use by units on deployed missions – including voice, fax, data, video and multimedia applications – as the backbone of a strategic command infrastructure and interface with the tactical arms of the German Armed Forces. The overall industrial responsibility for this secure communication program is with Milsat Services (a 75% Astrium/25% subsidiary of ND SatCom Defence).

The COMSATBw-1 spacecraft was delivered to French Guiana this week, flown in aboard a chartered Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner that landed at Cayenne’s Rochambeau International Airport.  It was then transferred by road to the Spaceport’s payload preparation facility, which is designed to provide total security in the processing of such sensitive satellites.

EADS Astrium is prime contractor for the German military program’s space segment, and has booked its two spacecraft for Arianespace launches – beginning with COMSATBw-1 on the upcoming Ariane 5 flight.  With a liftoff mass of 2,500 kg. at launch and a design life of 15 years, the satellites will operate in geostationary orbit and provide communication services over an area stretching from America to eastern Asia.

COMSATBw-1 will be launched on Ariane 5’s late September mission along with the Amazonas 2 satellite, which arrived in French Guiana last week and is undergoing pre-launch processing in the S5 facility.

Built by EADS Astrium using the Eurostar E3000 spacecraft bus, Amazonas 2 will weigh approximately 5,500 kg. at liftoff and is to be operated by the Spanish-based HISPASAT telecommunications operator.  It is designed to provide relay capacity over the Americas with a coverage area extending from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.   Amazonas 2 carries 54 Ku-band transponders and 10 C-band transponders for the relay of a wide range of communications services, including direct-to-home television.

The upcoming flight with Amazonas 2 and COMSATBw-1 is part of Arianespace’s busiest launch year for Ariane 5 since its 1999 commercial service introduction.   A total of seven missions are planned with the workhorse launcher during 2009, with four of these already performed to date – orbiting a combined payload mass of more than 26,000 kg.

Offline jacqmans

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Pre-launch processing begins with the COMSATBw-1 military communications satellite for Ariane 5's next launch

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/636.asp


September 15, 2009

Arianespace’s ability to accommodate the full range of payloads in its fast-paced launch schedule is demonstrated by preparations for the upcoming Ariane 5 mission – which involve parallel processing of Germany’s COMSATBw-1 military relay satellite and the Amazonas 2 commercial telecom platform for Spain’s HISPASAT.

COMSATBw-1 is in the S5C large preparation hall of the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation center where it is undergoing pre-launch checkout; while Amazonas 2 has been topped off with its propellant load in the S5B fueling and integration hall. 

The S5 facility – which has three separate clean room zones – enables multiple passengers to be processed in parallel for Arianespace missions, and ensures high security for even the most sensitive of payloads.  Its S5C high bay is the largest of the facility’s preparation halls, providing a 700-sq.-meter work area.  The S5B is a 400-sq.-meter dual-function hall capable of handling both satellite integration and fueling.

For Ariane 5’s launch late this month, the heavy-lift vehicle’s two passengers will have a combined payload weight of 8,000 kg. 

The 2,500-kg. COMSATBw-1 plays an important role in the German Bundeswehr’s (German Armed Forces) concept for network-centric operations.  This spacecraft is designed to handle secure information for use by units on deployed missions – including voice, fax, data, video and multimedia applications, with a coverage area that stretches from America to eastern Asia.

COMSATBw-1 will serve as the backbone of a strategic command infrastructure and interface for the Bundeswehr’s tactical arms.  Overall industrial responsibility for the secure communication program is with Milsat Services (a 75% Astrium/25% subsidiary of ND SatCom Defence).

The program’s space segment prime contractor is EADS Astrium, which has booked its two spacecraft for Arianespace launches beginning with COMSATBw-1.  Thales Alenia Space is responsible for integrating the Spacebus satellite bus, while Astrium’s German subsidiary TESAT delivers the payloads.

Accompanying COMSATBw-1 on the upcoming Ariane 5 missions is Amazonas 2, which was built by EADS Astrium using the Eurostar E3000 spacecraft bus, and is to weigh approximately 5,500 kg. at liftoff.  When operational with the Spanish-based HISPASAT telecommunications operator, Amazonas 2 will provide relay capacity over the Americas with a coverage area extending from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.  It carries 54 Ku-band transponders and 10 C-band transponders for the relay of a wide range of communications services, including direct-to-home television.

The mission with Amazonas 2 and COMSATBw-1 will be the fifth of seven flights in Arianespace’s busiest launch year for Ariane 5 since its 1999 commercial service introduction.   

Jacques :-)

Offline anik

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Launch campaigns for Arianespace’s two upcoming Ariane 5 flights reach new milestones
September 17, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/637.asp

The parallel launch campaigns for Arianespace’s next two Ariane 5 missions are continuing apace as payload processing for the fifth Ariane 5 flight of 2009 marked a new milestone, and the sixth launcher completed its basic build-up during activity at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

For Ariane 5’s upcoming mission – planned for the end of this month – the Amazonas 2 payload has now made its first contact with launcher hardware.  This step occurred today in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility as Amazonas 2 was installed on the cone-shaped adapter that serves as its interface with Ariane 5.

Amazonas 2 was built by EADS Astrium using the Eurostar E3000 spacecraft bus and will weigh approximately 5,500 kg. at liftoff.  It is to be operated by the Spanish HISPASAT telecommunications operator, and will provide relay capacity over the Americas with a coverage area extending from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.  Amazonas 2 carries 54 Ku-band transponders and 10 C-band transponders for a wide range of communications services, including direct-to-home television.

The Madrid-based HISPASAT was established in 1989 with the goal of becoming the leading satellite operator in the Spanish and Portuguese language markets.  Arianespace has supported HISPASAT’s development of its satellite fleet – providing launch services to orbit three spacecraft: Hispasat 1B in 1993, XTAR-EUR in 2005 and Spainsat in 2006.

Joining Amazonas 2 on Ariane 5’s late-September mission will be the German COMSATBw-1 military telecommunications satellite, which also is undergoing its pre-launch processing in the Spaceport’s S5 facility.  With a liftoff weight of 2,500 kg., COMSATBw-1 will play an important role in the German Bundeswehr’s (German Armed Forces) concept for network-centric operations.  This spacecraft is conceived for the relay of secure information for use by units on deployed missions – including voice, fax, data, video and multimedia applications.  Its coverage area stretches from America to eastern Asia.

Offline anik

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According to http://www.arianespace.com/news/mission-status.asp the launch window is from 22:00 till 23:10 UTC on September 30th.

The Amazonas 2 satellite is integrated for Ariane 5's upcoming launch
September 21, 2009

Final payload integration is underway for Arianespace’s fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2009, with the Amazonas 2 telecommunications satellite now encapsulated in its payload fairing.

This activity took place inside the satellite staging area of Ariane 5’s Final Assembly Building at the Spaceport in French Guiana, where the ogive-shaped fairing was lowered into place over Amazonas 2. The fairing will protect the satellite during Ariane 5’s climb-out through the atmosphere’s dense layers.

HISPASAT’s Amazonas 2 will ride as the upper payload on Ariane 5’s next flight – scheduled later this month – while the German COMSATBw-1 military communications satellite is to be positioned below it as the lower satellite passenger in the payload “stack.”

With a liftoff mass of approximately 5,500 kg., Amazonas 2 is to operate from a final orbital slot of 61 deg. West.  This satellite will provide the Spanish-based HISPASAT telecommunications operator with relay capacity over the Americas, with its coverage area extending from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. 

It is based on EADS Astrium’s Eurostar E3000 spacecraft bus, and has been designed for a useful lifetime of 15 years. Amazonas 2 is to handle a wide range of communications services – including direct-to-home television – through its 54 Ku-band transponders and 10 C-band transponders.

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