LIVE: Ariane 5 GS launch - Helios IIB - December 18, 2009

[anik]

Maintaining Arianespace's mission pace: the seventh Ariane 5 for launch in 2009 arrives at the Spaceport
September 23, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/639.asp

Launch vehicles for three upcoming Arianespace missions are now at the Spaceport in French Guiana following this week’s delivery of components for Ariane 5’s record seventh flight of 2009.

The latest Ariane 5 was delivered by the MN Toucan, which is one of two roll-on/roll-off sea-going vessels that transport launchers and other hardware from Arianespace’s European manufacturing network to the launch site in South America.

It was unloaded from the MN Toucan at Pariacabo port near Kourou and transferred by road to the Spaceport, where it is ready to enter the production flow – beginning with its initial build-up in the Launcher Integration Building. 

The Launcher Integration Building currently is occupied by the sixth Ariane 5 for launch in 2009, which has completed its basic assembly process and is awaiting the transfer to the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building.  The Final Assembly Building is hosting the no. 5 launcher for 2009, which is now poised to receive its dual satellite payload of the German COMSATBw-1 military communications satellite and HISPASAT’s Amazonas 2 commercial relay platform.

The coordinated movement of launchers will begin with the September 29 rollout of the fifth Ariane 5 from the Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone, where it is scheduled for an evening liftoff on September 30.  When the rollout occurs, the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building will be ready to receive Arianespace’s no. 6 launch vehicle, which is to be transferred from the Launcher Integration Building – opening this facility for the build-up start of the seventh Ariane 5 to be launched in 2009.

Arianespace is maintaining its sustained Ariane 5 launch pace to meet the company’s growing list of payloads booked by international customers.  The seven missions targeted for 2009 will mark the busiest calendar year for Arianespace’s workhorse launcher since its commercial introduction in 1999.

[catfry]

A larger than usual number of european and british military birds this year I think.

[anik]

Integration begins for the seventh Ariane 5 to be launched in 2009
October 15, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/648.asp (with photos!)

The seventh and final Ariane 5 for launch in 2009 has begun its assembly process in French Guiana, maintaining the pace for Arianespace’s busiest year of flight activity since this workhorse launcher’s December 1999 commercial introduction.

[Ben the Space Brit]

I'm assuming that the Ariane-5 GS is a variant like the Ariane-5 ECA.  Could someone point me to a link showing the differences between the variants? Thanks in advance.

[MKremer]

I'm assuming that the Ariane-5 GS is a variant like the Ariane-5 ECA.  Could someone point me to a link showing the differences between the variants? Thanks in advance.

GS used a hypergolic US (limited to ≤ 6800kg to GTO)
ECA is LOX/LH2.

[mainstreet]

A GS is essentially a Ariane V ES, which is used to launch the ATV, but equipped with a Vulcain 1 instead of a Vulcain 2 engine.

This will propably be the last launch of a GS.

[catfry]

Huh. I could have sworn no further Vulcain 1 engines existed but it seems you are right:

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Access_to_Space/SEMGPDVLWFE_0.html

The Ariane 5 GS is the latest evolution of the Ariane-5 Generic launcher, produced after the end of the Ariane 5 G+ series.

This version integrates more recent elements produced in the frame of the Ariane 5 ECA and Ariane 5 ES ATV developments. It incorporates:
EAP boosters with more propellant in the S1 segments
a composite VEB with the electrical equipments identical to those produced for the Ariane 5 ECA version
an EPS stage loaded with 300 kg more propellant
 
 
The central core stage (EPC) uses the Vulcain 1B engine which delivers a thrust level of 110 tonnes.

[Stephan]

Launch on december 9 at 16:26 UTC according Arianespace guys.

[satlaunch]

Basic assembly is completed for the seventh Ariane 5 to be launched in 2009
October 28, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/654.asp

The Ariane 5 for Arianespace’s seventh and final flight of 2009 has completed its basic buildup in the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building at French Guiana, maintaining the company’s sustained mission pace with the commercial launch vehicle.

Once final check-out steps are completed, this Ariane 5 will be ready for transfer to the Final Assembly Building, where payload installation is to occur.  The Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building is now ready to receive the launcher following today’s rollout of another Ariane 5, which is slated for liftoff tomorrow with the NSS-12 and THOR 6 satellites.

Arianespace’s mission flexibility is enhanced by the Spaceport’s infrastructure, which allows two Ariane 5 flights to be prepared in parallel.

Beginning in 2010, the company’s family of launch vehicles will be expanded with Arianespace’s introduction of the medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega.

[jacqmans]

The seventh Ariane 5 of 2009 is delivered to Arianespace
November 16, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/656.asp
 
Arianespace has received the seventh Ariane 5 for launch in 2009, which is scheduled for liftoff on December 9 with the Helios 2B French military reconnaissance satellite.

The Ariane 5 GS version of Arianespace’s workhorse vehicle is now in the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building following its delivery by prime contractor EADS Astrium Space Transportation. 

Helios 2B will be the latest in a family of military observation satellites launched by Ariane, and this payload was built by EADS Astrium.  Arianespace’s customer on the upcoming mission is the CNES French space agency, operating on behalf of France’s DGA defense procurement organization.

Ariane 5 has flown two other missions in 2009 with military payloads.  Germany’s COMSATBw-1 secure communications satellite was launched October 1, and a pair of Spirale auxiliary passengers was orbited on February 12 to serve as demonstrators for a future French defense early warning system.

[Stephan]

The launch kit is available :
http://www.arianespace.com/news-launch-kits/launch-kit.asp

[jacqmans]

Ariane 5 is readied for its launch of the Helios 2B reconnaissance satellite
December 2, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/657.asp

Arianespace’s wrap-up Ariane 5 flight of 2009 has entered final preparations for its liftoff next week with France’s Helios 2B military observation satellite.

This seventh launch of the year is set for 1:26 p.m. on December 9 from the Spaceport in French Guiana, with its payload to be injected into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit during a mission lasting 59 min., 23 sec.   

Helios 2B will weigh approximately 4,200 kg. at liftoff and was produced by EADS Astrium as prime contractor.  The satellite’s European industrial team also includes Thales Alenia Space, which supplied the reconnaissance satellite’s high resolution imaging instrument.   

Managing the Helios 2B program is the French defense procurement agency DGA (Direction générale de l’armement).  The DGA assigned contracting authority for the space segment to the French CNES space agency – the direct customer for Arianespace on this December 9 mission.

An Ariane 5 GS is being used for this 49th launch of Arianespace’s workhorse vehicle.  The GS version is tailored for low-Earth orbit payloads such as Helios 2B, and is operated along with the Ariane 5 ECA on missions to geostationary transfer orbit that carry telecommunications satellite payloads.  As a result, Arianespace utilizes two standardized launcher configurations, ensuring high reliability and availability through production repeatability.

Helios 2B is the second satellite in a new-generation spaceborne observation system for military applications that has been created by France in conjunction with Belgium, Spain, Italy and Greece.   All of the previous Helios 2 and Helios 1 satellites have been launched by Ariane vehicles, beginning with Helios 1A in July 1995.

[Lewis007]

The launch posters for this V-193 mission have been published.

[DT1]

Huh. I could have sworn no further Vulcain 1 engines existed but it seems you are right:

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Access_to_Space/SEMGPDVLWFE_0.html

The Ariane 5 GS is the latest evolution of the Ariane-5 Generic launcher, produced after the end of the Ariane 5 G+ series.

This version integrates more recent elements produced in the frame of the Ariane 5 ECA and Ariane 5 ES ATV developments. It incorporates:
EAP boosters with more propellant in the S1 segments
a composite VEB with the electrical equipments identical to those produced for the Ariane 5 ECA version
an EPS stage loaded with 300 kg more propellant
 
 
The central core stage (EPC) uses the Vulcain 1B engine which delivers a thrust level of 110 tonnes.

This is indeed the last 5GS flight - and the 5GS was intruduced after the failure of the first Vulcain 2 flight back in December 2002.

But as the EPC of the 5G and 5G+ was already out of production, the 5GS has to use the Vulcain 2 EPC resulting in the lowest payload capacity of all Ariane 5 versions. Therfore this version was only built six times.

[Analyst]

Isn't the Vulcain 2 EPC more powerful than the 5G/5G+ EPC? Or is it more massive because of the ECA upper stage. I am confused.

EDIT: O.k I got it: It is a heavier EPC (for Vulcian 2/ECA) with the old Vulcain 1.

Analyst

[DT1]

Isn't the Vulcain 2 EPC more powerful than the 5G/5G+ EPC? Or is it more massive because of the ECA upper stage. I am confused.

EDIT: O.k I got it: It is a heavier EPC (for Vulcian 2/ECA) with the old Vulcain 1.

Analyst

Yes, just to add to the explanation: Vulcain 2 has a 20% higher mixture ratio and for this extra liquid oxygen (which makes the EPC heavier) the EPC common tank bulkhead was lowered. The last of the old EPCs flew with the last 5G+ (coincidentally with Helios IIA) in December 2004.

[Holi]

Arianespace Mission Update:

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/658.asp

December 7, 2009

Arianespace’s seventh and final Ariane 5 launch of 2009 has been given the green light today, clearing this mission for a mid-day liftoff on December 9 with the French Helios 2B military observation satellite...This clears the way for tomorrow morning’s rollout of the Ariane 5 GS from its Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana...

Holi

[anik]

Ready for liftoff: Ariane 5 is in the launch zone with its Helios 2B military satellite payload
December 8, 2009

Arianespace has rolled out its seventh Ariane 5 for launch in 2009, preparing the final mission of this year for a daytime liftoff tomorrow at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

The workhorse vehicle was transferred to the ELA-3 launch zone this morning under sunny skies, emerging at 9:45 a.m. local time from the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building – where the Ariane 5 had been fitted with its Helios 2B satellite payload.

This year-ending flight will involve a northward trajectory, with the French-built spacecraft being injected into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit at the conclusion of a 59 min., 23 sec. mission.

The launcher version to be used on this mission is an Ariane 5 GS.  It is powered during initial phases of flight by the Vulcain main engine and two solid rocket boosters, followed by the storable propellant upper stage’s burn for some 16 minutes to achieve orbital injection altitude.

[jcm]

OK, here's something odd in the Arianespace press kit:

"The Ariane 5GS launcher will be carrying a total payload of 5954 kg, including 4200 kg for the Helios 2B satellite."

That leaves 1754 kg for.... what?

[robertross]

Whether it coincides with the original in French?

"...sur l'orbite visée."

It needs the equivalent of a Centaur upper stage to raise it's orbit. That must be the missing mass.

[Chris Bergin]

Moved for live coverage

[WHAP]

Really?  Ariane 5 launching from the equator can't put a 4200 kg mass into a final orbit of 680 km circular?  I'm not buying it.

[Alpha Control]

Whether it coincides with the original in French?

"...sur l'orbite visée."

It needs the equivalent of a Centaur upper stage to raise it's orbit. That must be the missing mass.

And here I was hoping that they were sneaking an ARV demonstrator under the fairing.

[edkyle99]

Really?  Ariane 5 launching from the equator can't put a 4200 kg mass into a final orbit of 680 km circular?  I'm not buying it.

You're right.  G could do 9.5-ish tonnes, plus or minus, to an 800 km sun sync orbit.  GS, with the slightly more powerful solid boosters but heavier EPC, should be able to do a bit less, perhaps 9 tonnes.  Keep in mind too that this EPS does a less than ideal single single-burn ascent profile.

 - Ed Kyle

[sdsds]

It's sad that a clone of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory wasn't available to share the ride with Helios 2B, like PARASOL did with Helios 2A.

[woods170]

Whether it coincides with the original in French?

"La performance demandée au lanceur Ariane GS pour ce vol est de 5 954 kg dont 4 200 kg représentent la masse du satellite HELIOS 2B ŕ séparer sur l'orbite visée."

Not really, a slightly more appropriate translation shoud be:
"The required performance of the Ariane GS launcher for this flight is 5,954 kg of which 4,200 kg represents the mass of the HELIOS 2B satellite at time of separation."

Still, that leaves some 1,700 kg to be accounted for. However, take a good look at the payload-stack image here. Is that an additional small-payload-carrier I see below the satellite adapter? That would at least partially explain the weight difference.

[Mighty-T]

The Ariane 5GS is dramatically overpowered for the launch of Helios. In order to dissipate excess power, it will embark on a de-optimized trajectory and it uses the ASAP platform and MFD ring(s) as additional ballast.

[SIM city]

Has this launch been postponed?
http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm

[epastel]

Has this launch been postponed?
http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm

Indeed, it has been postponed.

[Chris Bergin]

Do we have a reason? Rare for Ariane to delay on the day of launch.

[klausd]

During final count-down operations for Flight 193 slated for today, an anomaly occurred in a launcher subsystem.

As a result, Arianespace has decided to replace this part, and thus to postpone the launch for a few days.

The launch vehicle and its HELIOS 2B satellite payload have been placed in stand-by mode and maintained in fully safe conditions.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2009/12-09-09-launch-postponed.asp

[Mighty-T]

Reson for the delay is a problem with the Helium pressurization system of the first stage. Launcher needs to return to assembly building to fix it.

[Chris Bergin]

Thanks.

I hope we don't end up with an Endeavour rollover, WISE launch and HELIOS 2B launch all on the same day

[jcm]

The Ariane 5GS is dramatically overpowered for the launch of Helios. In order to dissipate excess power, it will embark on a de-optimized trajectory and it uses the ASAP platform and MFD ring(s) as additional ballast.

OK, thanks. But there are definitely no secondary payloads on the ASAP platform this time? I think that's the first time an ASAP has flown with no piggyback experiments.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Just a thought, if this is a recon/intel bird, shouldn't it be launched into a polar orbit? Do they do that direct from CSG or do they do a plane change burn after reaching an initial equatorial orbit? It might explain the over-powered LV.

[sdsds]

Just a thought, if this is a recon/intel bird, shouldn't it be launched into a polar orbit? Do they do that direct from CSG or do they do a plane change burn after reaching an initial equatorial orbit? It might explain the over-powered LV.

This is covered in the "launch kit" mentioned previously:

The launch kit is available :
http://www.arianespace.com/news-launch-kits/launch-kit.asp

The destination orbit is sun-synchronous polar.  The launcher first climbs vertically for 10 seconds, then rotates towards the North.  I think the trajectory graphic shows it crossing the Gulf of Saint Lawrence before making landfall over Quebec.

[robertross]

The destination orbit is sun-synchronous polar.  The launcher first climbs vertically for 10 seconds, then rotates towards the North.  I think the trajectory graphic shows it crossing the Gulf of Saint Lawrence before making landfall over Quebec.

landfall over Quebec???  ummm, I don't think that sounds quite right.

[sdsds]

The destination orbit is sun-synchronous polar.  The launcher first climbs vertically for 10 seconds, then rotates towards the North.  I think the trajectory graphic shows it crossing the Gulf of Saint Lawrence before making landfall over Quebec.

landfall over Quebec???  ummm, I don't think that sounds quite right.

Sorry, all those big land masses up there look kind of the same to me.  Maybe it crosses over Greenland or something.  Or was "makes landfall" the trouble?  Should I have said, "goes feet dry"?  Or "where the projection of the vehicle's trajectory onto the Earth's surface first crosses from a body of water to a land mass?"

[Art LeBrun]

Actually "rotates towards the north" didn't sound right either. Isn't the English language fun?

[sdsds]

Actually "rotates towards the north" didn't sound right either. Isn't the English language fun?

I won't even try to defend that sentence; I cribbed it directly from the "launch kit" pdf.  Of course we would prefer to say, "pitches north" or possibly "yaws north".  Eh?

[robertross]

The destination orbit is sun-synchronous polar.  The launcher first climbs vertically for 10 seconds, then rotates towards the North.  I think the trajectory graphic shows it crossing the Gulf of Saint Lawrence before making landfall over Quebec.

landfall over Quebec???  ummm, I don't think that sounds quite right.

Sorry, all those big land masses up there look kind of the same to me.

Ow, that hurt...

Or was "makes landfall" the trouble? 

That's the one.

Should I have said, "goes feet dry"?  Or "where the projection of the vehicle's trajectory onto the Earth's surface first crosses from a body of water to a land mass?"

The last one will do fine... 

[satlaunch]

Launch is set for 17 December, 16:26 UTC.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/661.asp

[Chris Bergin]

Thread date realigned.

ARIANESPACE FLIGHT - HELIOS 2B

Launch now scheduled for December 17

Corrective actions on the liquid helium subsystem on Ariane 5’s cryogenic main stage are now being completed, enabling Arianespace to set a new date for the launch of the HELIOS 2B satellite.

Liftoff of the Ariane 5 launcher is now scheduled for Thursday, December 17, 2009.

[jcm]

Still no EADS press kit for this launch, right? Hard to tell from the awful redesign of their web site...

[Analyst]

http://www.arianespace.com/images/launch-kits/launch-kit-pdf-eng/HELIOS_2B_GB.pdf

There you go.

Analyst

[Ben the Space Brit]

I haven't seen this posted on this thread yet.  Arianespace's website is saying T=0 will be at 1626UT today.


Ariane 5 returns to the launch zone with its Helios 2B satellite payload

 
December 16, 2009

Arianespace’s seventh and final Ariane 5 for 2009 is back on the launch pad today, starting the final countdown to a mid-day liftoff tomorrow.

The vehicle was transferred from its Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone this morning following corrective actions that were taken on the liquid helium subsystem in Ariane 5’s cryogenic main stage.  This work was required after an anomaly occurred during the original final countdown on December 9.

For the year-ending mission, Helios 2B is a solo payload on Ariane 5, with the 4,200-kg. satellite to be deployed into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit.

Developed by France, Helios 2B will serve as the second platform in a new-generation spaceborne observation system for military applications.  It will be the third Helios-series spacecraft orbited by Arianespace, following Helios 2A in 2004, Helios 1B in 1999, and the launch of Helios 1A in 1995.

[Ben the Space Brit]

The official Arianespace webcast is to begin in ~46 minutes.

[WHAP]

The official Arianespace webcast is to begin in ~46 minutes.

Wasn't it supposed to start a couple of months ago? (see date in upper right)

[Ben the Space Brit]

The official Arianespace webcast is to begin in ~46 minutes.

Wasn't it supposed to start a couple of months ago? (see date in upper right)

Hey, blame videocorner.tv's webmaster for not updating their banners, not me.

[edit]
Hey! It's been changed to 12/17/2009! I guess someone at videocorner or arianespace is watching this thread! Welcome, whoever you are and thank you for your quick response!

Cool atmospheric background music, BTW.

[Felix]

[Ben the Space Brit]

Aaaannnd... We're off! Good luck and fair winds to all the ladies and gents at CSG!

[Chris Bergin]

[Felix]

[Ben the Space Brit]

T-15 minutes

Running an info video on Helios-IIB at the moment.

[Felix]

[Chris Bergin]

They do like the cameras don't they

[Ben the Space Brit]

Dang! The Ariane-5 GS upper stage is small! Especially in relation to that gigantic core!

[Felix]

[Chris Bergin]

Nice bit of security at the launch site.

[Chris Bergin]

Order backlog of 40 satellites at Arianespace!

[Ben the Space Brit]

Nice bit of security at the launch site.

Do they boost security at KSC for DoD launches?

[Felix]

[Chris Bergin]

Into the launch sequence at T-7 mins.

[Ben the Space Brit]

T-7 minutes.  Launch now being controlled by ground autosequencer.

[Felix]

Red

[Chris Bergin]

Red and still counting. Obviously a problem.

[Chris Bergin]

Holding at 5:17. Very small window for this, so not helpful.

[Felix]

Holding at 5:17

LeGall speaking: SCRUB, trying again tomorrow.

[Chris Bergin]

My French isn't good enough, but sure he's saying it's a scrub.

Yes, SCRUB 24 hours.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Countdown stop at T-5:17

Flight director announces SCRUB due to short launch window.  Will try again tomorrow.

No word on the cause of the problem.

[Chris Bergin]

Webcast ended. We'll see what they say about the problem. We didn't even get to see the screen that shows what the problem may be.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Phew! They pulled the plug pretty quick on the webcast! Not much else to say, of course.

[robertross]

Order backlog of 40 satellites at Arianespace!

That's wild!

Of course scrubs don't help...

[WHAP]

Gee, where's all the clamoring for information about the problem?  Other folks get criticized for not leaving data on the screen during a coast, and Ariane gets a pass for pulling the plug in less than 5 minutes of a scrub, with no information whatsoever.

[Ben the Space Brit]

@ WHAP,

There was such a lot of 'tut-tutting' when SpaceX was criticised for being so close-mouthed about Falcon 1 Flight 5 that I think we've been innoculated against asking.

I suppose we're just all going to wait and see.  There will probably be an explanation soon enough.

[eeergo]

Gee, where's all the clamoring for information about the problem?  Other folks get criticized for not leaving data on the screen during a coast, and Ariane gets a pass for pulling the plug in less than 5 minutes of a scrub, with no information whatsoever.

They mentioned (while the promotional video about Soyuz was playing in the background) that the red condition was due to the "Ensemble de lancement", that is, the launch pad systems. They seem to have a real problem with that pad, as most of the cutoffs have been caused by it in the last few launches.

[Chris Bergin]

Gee, where's all the clamoring for information about the problem?  Other folks get criticized for not leaving data on the screen during a coast, and Ariane gets a pass for pulling the plug in less than 5 minutes of a scrub, with no information whatsoever.

Arianespace put their CE on the podium within two minutes of the scrub. Just don't speak much French, which is why we don't know what the problem is.

They are *easily* the best at webcasting launches.

Who criticized the coverage of the launch you're speaking about?

[pippin]

They mentioned (while the promotional video about Soyuz was playing in the background) that the red condition was due to the "Ensemble de lancement", that is, the launch pad systems. They seem to have a real problem with that pad, as most of the cutoffs have been caused by it in the last few launches.

Or it's simply some phrase under which they sum up a lot of different issues.

[Ben the Space Brit]

They mentioned (while the promotional video about Soyuz was playing in the background) that the red condition was due to the "Ensemble de lancement", that is, the launch pad systems. They seem to have a real problem with that pad, as most of the cutoffs have been caused by it in the last few launches.

Or it's simply some phrase under which they sum up a lot of different issues.

"Ensemble de Lancement" is one of the entries on the status display that they show on the left-hand side of the screen during countdowns.  It often goes red to indicate problems with things like the fuel and oxidiser supply equipment and other pad services.

[Chris Bergin]

FLIGHT 193-HELIOS 2B : LAUNCH DELAYED

Evry, December 17, 2009 - An anomaly occurred during final chronology for Flight 193-HELIOS 2B, thus halting the count-down.

Since the launch was to occur within a precise instant, a new attempt was not possible today.

The launch vehicle and its HELIOS 2B satellite payload are in stand-by mode and maintained in fully safe conditions.

A new date for the mission will be announced as soon as possible

[WHAP]

Arianespace put their CE on the podium within two minutes of the scrub. Just don't speak much French, which is why we don't know what the problem is.

They are *easily* the best at webcasting launches.

Who criticized the coverage of the launch you're speaking about?

I was just surprised at the speed with which they terminated things without explanation.  I don't speak much French either, but I don't think that's the reason we don't know the cause of the abort.  I guess I haven't seen such a significant difference between the Ariane and ULA webcasts to say Ariane is "easily" the best.

WRT previous discussions, I had to go back and look; it was only a complaint about the lack of jazz music during the coast.  ;-)  But I still think this group would have been much more critical (and speculative) if it had been an NRO payload on top of an Atlas or Delta.

[woods170]

They mentioned (while the promotional video about Soyuz was playing in the background) that the red condition was due to the "Ensemble de lancement", that is, the launch pad systems. They seem to have a real problem with that pad, as most of the cutoffs have been caused by it in the last few launches.

Or it's simply some phrase under which they sum up a lot of different issues.

"Ensemble de Lancement" is one of the entries on the status display that they show on the left-hand side of the screen during countdowns.  It often goes red to indicate problems with things like the fuel and oxidiser supply equipment and other pad services.

The main cause of many launch-pad related scrubs for Ariane have been valves at the launchpad that either failed to open or close. Nothing new here, that happens all the time. Arianespace has had a whole boatload of launchpad equipment related scrubs on Ariane 4. Problems like these are usually fixed within two days at the most, and often within 24 hours.

[woods170]

The Ariane 5GS is dramatically overpowered for the launch of Helios. In order to dissipate excess power, it will embark on a de-optimized trajectory and it uses the ASAP platform and MFD ring(s) as additional ballast.

Yup. Too bad they are not flying Ariane 4 anymore. She would have been just right for this job.

[Chris Bergin]

WRT previous discussions, I had to go back and look; it was only a complaint about the lack of jazz music during the coast.  ;-)  But I still think this group would have been much more critical (and speculative) if it had been an NRO payload on top of an Atlas or Delta.

If so, it would only because there's far more interest in an Atlas or Delta launch on here.

[tonthomas]

The Ariane 5GS is dramatically overpowered for the launch of Helios. In order to dissipate excess power, it will embark on a de-optimized trajectory and it uses the ASAP platform and MFD ring(s) as additional ballast.

Nothing more known about any secondary payloads sitting on the asap-ring?

[jcm]

http://www.arianespace.com/images/launch-kits/launch-kit-pdf-eng/HELIOS_2B_GB.pdf

There you go.

Analyst

That's the Arianespace press kit. The EADS one is usually much better.
e.g http://astrium.eads.net/media/document/flight-192.pdf

[Mighty-T]

Nothing more known about any secondary payloads sitting on the asap-ring?

Well, there are no secondary payloads on the ASAP-platform. So, in a sense, we know *everything* about these payloads 

[Satori]

Launch in a little more than 3 hours!

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ben the Space Brit]

Update on the Arianespace webpage:

Liftoff is set for Friday, December 18, 2009
Evry, December 18, 2009

Following additional checks, Arianespace has decided to restart the final countdown for its mission with the HELIOS 2B satellite.

Liftoff of the Ariane 5 launcher is now set for Friday, December 18 at 1:26 p.m. local time in Kourou (16:26 UT, 5:26 p.m. in Paris).

[Chris Bergin]

Webcast link reminder:
http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm

[Felix]

[Ronsmytheiii]

Hmm, the webcast countdown has disappeared......

[Chris Bergin]

Yeah, and it's not even that voiceover testing the comm ahead of the webcast starting.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Voice tests!

[Chris Bergin]

Yeah, and it's not even that voiceover testing the comm ahead of the webcast starting.

Speak of the devil, there's the audio. Must have just lost their webcast countdown.

[Chris Bergin]

Green board at T-19 mins. At least we saw it flash up for a second.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Uh-oh

[Chris Bergin]

Uh-oh

What was I saying yesterday about Arianespace having the best commericial launcher webcast. WHAP is pointing and laughing at my comment now

[Chris Bergin]

Green board - I think - at T-17 mins.

[Ben the Space Brit]

French language feed is also only showing a test pattern/audio signal.

[edit]
Ah! Now showing a countdown! 90 seconds to go!

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Chris Bergin]

I'm guessing the podium shot was just Jean-Yves overviewing the turnaround.

Ah, here we go.

[Ronsmytheiii]

[robertross]

I really liked the opening video snips/trailer...something NASA should look at doing.

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ben the Space Brit]

Just finished an opening presser as the broadcast started.  Sounded vaguely like a pre-launch briefing.

We're at T-8:45 and all is green.

No English language commentary for some reason

[Chris Bergin]

Webcast commentary is in French it would appear.

60 seconds to the automatic launch sequence.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Hmm, I am getting French only apparently.

[Chris Bergin]

T-7 minutes, into the automated sequence.

[Ben the Space Brit]

T-7 minutes.  Launch under control of ground autosequencer computers.

[edit]
Information videos are in English.  I'm guessing that, for some reason, the feeds for the English live commentary has been mixed up with the French language input and isn't being broadcast.

[ares-mojo]

Soyuz in Kourou update and other recent Arianespace updates right now - in English.

[Chris Bergin]

Really is going to be one impressive launch site with Soyuz and Vega joining next year.

[Chris Bergin]

T-4 mins and green board.

[Ben the Space Brit]

T-3:30 minutes.  Still all green

[Ben the Space Brit]

T-minus 2 minutes.  All green

[Chris Bergin]

T-120 seconds.

[Ben the Space Brit]

T-1 minute and counting.  All green.

[Chris Bergin]

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Chris Bergin]

LAUNCH!!

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Chris Bergin]

Pitch and roll T+30 seconds.

[robertross]

Trajectory normal

[Chris Bergin]

T+60 seconds. Max Q.

[robertross]

Mach 2

[Chris Bergin]

Very nice camera angle.

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Chris Bergin]

SRB burnout and Sep.

[Chris Bergin]

120km altitude.
2.15kms velocity.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Fairing sep

[Chris Bergin]

Fairing Jettison.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Was it me or was the pad camera knocked out by the SRM ignition shockwave?

+6:30 since launch.

Altitude going through 275km.  Velocity 4.1km/s

[Chris Bergin]

Was it me or was the pad camera knocked out by the SRM ignition shockwave?

Yeah, that's what I thought. Still, we got nice camera angle of lift-off as a result.

[klausd]

[Chris Bergin]

Altitude: 275km
Velocity: 4.2kms.

[Ronsmytheiii]

hellios IIB overview video:

[Ben the Space Brit]

+9 minutes

A = 350km
V = 5.8km/s

[Ronsmytheiii]

Staging:

[Ben the Space Brit]

Looks like I missed stage 1/2 sep.  Is the vehicle carrying out a plane change manoeuvre? The US seemed to swerve sharply in the simulation.

[Chris Bergin]

A lot of difference with the profile. This one is going for altitude big time, whereas the ECA would be going after downrange.

[Chris Bergin]

Nearing the top of the hill

[Ronsmytheiii]

Is it going to the moon ? 

[Chris Bergin]

Heh, I thought the French MOD guy just said they'd be able to spy on the GB!

[Ben the Space Brit]

+15 minutes.  The vehicle is going through 750km altitude.  Velocity steady at 6.33km/s

[Ronsmytheiii]

maximum altitude: 

[Chris Bergin]

Peaking at about 770km.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Heh, I thought the French MOD guy just said they'd be able to spy on the GB!

Frankly, Britain is only nominally a French ally.

[edit]
From the ground motion in the simulation window, the US is thrusting at about a 30-degree angle to orbital direction. 

[Chris Bergin]

Starting to pick up some extra velocity now.

[SimonShuttle]

Heh, I thought the French MOD guy just said they'd be able to spy on the GB!

Frankly, Britain is only nominally a French ally.

[edit]
From the ground motion in the simulation window, the US is thrusting at about a 30-degree angle to orbital direction. 

Where else can we get cheap booze from

[Ronsmytheiii]

Going down hill right now, will the





u/S be restarted or is this it?

[Chris Bergin]

They are telling us a lot about this bird, considering it's a spy sat!

Dropping back down to around 700km.

[Chris Bergin]

French troops in Afghanistan.

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Chris Bergin]

Short second burn of the US complete.

[Ronsmytheiii]

SECO

[Chris Bergin]

Holding steady at 676km and 7.6kms.

[jcm]

Commentary just mentioned that the ASAP structure has dummy microsat payloads attached - was only half listening, did anyone catch the details? Probably a ballast thing rather than an active vibration study.

[Ronsmytheiii]

[Stephan]

Heh, I thought the French MOD guy just said they'd be able to spy on the GB!

(refraining myself from posting some jokes, don't want to get kicked )

[Ben the Space Brit]

According to an earlier information video, s/c sep should be at about the T+1:00:00 mark.  The US will remain attached until then and will perform a short rotation to position the spacecraft properly before release.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Apparently, France is spying on itself!

[Chris Bergin]

Enjoying these videos.

Recon!

[Ronsmytheiii]

Looks like the altitude will dip near the end:

[Chris Bergin]

Just over 10 mins to S/C Sep.

[Chris Bergin]

French Foriegn Legion - 3rd Infrantry provide ground security at the launch site.

[Chris Bergin]

Reviewing the military sats.

UK MOD's Skynet:

[Ben the Space Brit]

Reviewing the military sats.

UK MOD's Skynet:

SKYNET?!? Uh... that thing doesn't... It doesn't have any super-advanced control systems and AI software does it? Only kidding.  The British forums were full of 'Terminator' jokes when Skynet was first named.

[Ronsmytheiii]

acquisition from Perth

[Analyst]

French Foriegn Legion - 3rd Infrantry provide ground security at the launch site.

Chris does really enjoy this (more than the launch itself).

Analyst

[Chris Bergin]

Helios IIB S/C Sep!

Congrats to all concerned!   
 
 

[Ronsmytheiii]

S/C separation, congratulations CNES, Arianespace, Astrium, and the French Military community:

[Chris Bergin]

[Ronsmytheiii]

Launch video to fairing separation:

[Analyst]

What a year:

7 missions,
12 payloads, 9 to GTO, 1 to polar, 2 to escape,
about 50 metric tons.

Analyst

[Felix]

Congrats

[DarthVader]

Looks like this time the camera located close to the launch pad didn't survive the shock of the boosters ignitions

[jacqmans]

Arianespace delivers Helios 2B into Sun-synchronous polar orbit on Ariane 5's seventh flight of 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/666.asp

December 18, 2009
 
Arianespace wrapped up another successful year of operations with today’s orbiting of the French Helios 2B military observation satellite, which was lofted on the seventh Ariane 5 launch in 2009.

This daytime mission underscored Ariane 5’s capability to accommodate a full range of satellite payloads by placing Helios 2B into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit during a flight lasting just under one hour. 

It was the third time in 2009 that Arianespace’s workhorse launcher carried defense and security payloads.  On its year-opening mission in February, Ariane 5 lofted two Spirale satellite demonstrators for a French-developed future early warning system, while its October 1 flight deployed the COMSATBw-1 secure telecommunications platform for Germany’s armed forces.

Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said these missions “underscore the strategic nature” of Arianespace’s role as a launch services provider, and confirms the access to space provided by a system that is backed by European governments and its space industry.

The successful close-out of 2009 launch operations came only days before the 30th anniversary of Ariane’s maiden flight, which was performed on December 24, 1979 with an Ariane 1 version. 

“During the past 30 years, our company has launched 277 satellites – 32 of which were for the requirements of European defense,” Le Gall added. “This will continue in the future: with 10 new contracts signed in 2009 – soon 11 – we have once again led the pack, and our order book guarantees the launch rate of six to seven Ariane 5s annually for the years to come.”

Today’s flight also marked the 35th consecutive successful launch for Ariane 5, demonstrating this workhorse vehicle’s record of reliability for Arianespace’s growing international customer base. 

“While Ariane very often is cited as an example of political cooperation, technical accomplishment, industrial realization or commercial achievement, I can say that after experiencing the many successes as today’s flight, it above all is a formidable human adventure,” Le Gall said.  “This string of uninterrupted success is the anniversary present that we all have dreamed about for these 30 years.  For those who have made it happen: Bravo!”

Helios 2B weighed approximately 4,200 kg. at liftoff, and is the second platform in a new-generation military spaceborne observation system created by France in conjunction with Belgium, Spain, Italy and Greece.  The satellite was produced by EADS Astrium as prime contractor, and the spacecraft’s European industrial team included Thales Alenia Space, which supplied the reconnaissance satellite’s high resolution imaging instrument. 

Managing the Helios 2 program is the French DGA (Direction générale de l’armement) defense procurement agency.  The DGA assigned contracting authority for the space segment to the country’s CNES space agency – which as the direct customer for Arianespace on this mission. 

Ariane vehicles have orbited all of the Helios 2 and Helios 1-series satellites, beginning with Helios 1A in July 1995, and followed by Helios 1B in 1999 and Helios 2A in 2004.   

Le Gall said 2010 promises to be another busy year for Arianespace, with mission planning that includes the second flight of an Automated Transfer Vehicle to service the International Space Station, as well as the introduction of Soyuz and Vega launchers at the Spaceport.

[jacqmans]

Mission accomplished for Arianespace - HELIOS 2B is now in orbit: 7th Ariane 5 launch in 2009, 35th success in a row

Kourou, December 18, 2009

http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2009/12-18-09-mission-success.asp

Arianespace has successfully launched the HELIOS 2B observation satellite. Following a flight lasting 59 minutes and 20 seconds, the Ariane 5 launch vehicle precisely injected the HELIOS 2B satellite into its sun-synchronous polar orbit. 


49th Ariane 5 launch, 7th Ariane 5 launch in 2009, 35th success in a row

The latest successful launch of an Ariane 5, the 7th in 2009, confirms that Arianespace’s launch service & solutions continue to set the global standard for all manufacturers and operators, whether civil or military.

With this launch, Ariane 5 has once again demonstrated its ability to handle a complete range of missions, from government launches into sun-synchronous orbit to the largest payloads into geostationary orbit.

This was the 49th launch of an Ariane 5 and the 35th successful launch in a row.

With today’s mission, Arianespace closes out a very successful year, setting a record with 7 flawless launches of Ariane 5 in 2009.

Supporting security and defense

The Ariane 5 launcher is a key to the development of a common European security and defense policy, in which the space segment plays a pivotal role. HELIOS 2B was the 33rd  military payload to be lofted by the European launcher.

Arianespace’s services cover all mission requirements of the European armed forces, with the following payloads successfully placed into orbit:

Optical observation: HELIOS 1A, launched in 1995, HELIOS 1B in 1999, and HELIOS 2A in 2004.
Telecommunications: Syracuse I, II and III systems (France), Sicral 1 (Italy), Skynet 4 and 5 (United Kingdom), Hispasat 1A, 1B and Spainsat (Spain), Turksat 1A, 1B, 1C and Eurasiasat (Turkey), and ComsatBw-1 (Germany).
The HELIOS 2B mission at a glance

This mission was carried out from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Liftoff was on Friday, December 18, 2009 at 1:26 p.m. local time in Kourou (16:26 UT, 5:26 p.m. in Paris).

HELIOS 2B

HELIOS 2B is an element of the second-generation spaceborne observation system for security and defense applications, conducted by France in conjunction with Belgium, Greece, Italy and Spain. The program manager is the French DGA defense procurement agency DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) – a part of the French Ministry of Defense, which has assigned contracting authority for the space segment to CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales), the French space agency. HELIOS 2B weighed approximately 4,200 kg. at liftoff. It was built by EADS Astrium as prime contractor, leading a number of other European companies, including Thales Alenia Space, which was responsible for the satellite’s high-resolution imaging instrument.

[robertross]

Congrats Arianespace!

It was a great launch to watch. Great job to all.

[woods170]

Looks like this time the camera located close to the launch pad didn't survive the shock of the boosters ignitions

Yes, that particular camera usually gets shaken around pretty badly, but looks like it bought the farm this time.

[Analyst]

French officials said they were unable to find compatible co-passengers for this launch despite the ample space and power available on the Ariane 5 vehicle.

This being a standard earth observing orbit. So much for cubesats, smallsats and small launch vehicles. Pegasus didn't fly this year, Falcon 1 once, Minataur once.

Analyst

[gwiz]

The British forums were full of 'Terminator' jokes when Skynet was first named.

That's amazing, considering the first UK Skynet launch was in 1969.

[Ben the Space Brit]

The British forums were full of 'Terminator' jokes when Skynet was first named.

That's amazing, considering the first UK Skynet launch was in 1969.

Really? That's news to me.  I'd never heard the name IRL before when it was announced a few years ago (which, as it is a milcom satellite maybe isn't surprising).  Quite a few people took the 'Terminator' parallels quite seriously.  Learn from that what you will.

[Skyrocket]

Really? That's news to me.  I'd never heard the name IRL before when it was announced a few years ago (which, as it is a milcom satellite maybe isn't surprising).  Quite a few people took the 'Terminator' parallels quite seriously.  Learn from that what you will.

Skynet was never classified
(see Flight International from 1969: http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%202888.html?search=skynet )

[woods170]

Really? That's news to me.  I'd never heard the name IRL before when it was announced a few years ago (which, as it is a milcom satellite maybe isn't surprising).  Quite a few people took the 'Terminator' parallels quite seriously.  Learn from that what you will.

Skynet was never classified
(see Flight International from 1969: http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%202888.html?search=skynet )

Correct. Skynet 4A for instance was to be launched on STS-61H, had that mission not been cancelled in the wake of the Challenger disaster. Two British payload specialists were in training for releasing Skynet 4A from the shuttle on that flight, but after Challenger, they never got to fly in space.
Skynet 4A was eventually launched on a Titan 3 booster.

[Lewis007]

Better late than never: the EADS press kit for the V-193 launch has been published.

[jacqmans]

"All systems go" for the Helios IIB satellite built by Astrium

Satellite now operational in all image acquisition modes
Upgraded ground stations delivered to partner countries by Astrium
Three Helios observation satellites now in orbit

Toulouse, 27 April 2010

http://classic.eads.net/1024/en/pressdb/pressdb/Astrium/20100427_astrium_helios2.html


The in-flight acceptance of the Helios IIB satellite has been successfully completed by Astrium on behalf of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) and under delegation from the French space agency, CNES. Helios IIB will now enter its operational phase serving the partner countries France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece and Germany. CNES will be responsible for in orbit operations.

The first images provided by the satellite were already being presented to military officials just a few days after the launch on 18 December 2009 – exactly five years after the launch of Helios IIA.

CNES, DGA and Astrium teams have spent three months checking that the satellite is in full working order. New software has also been installed to enable the Helios ground user segment to operate the three Helios satellites now in orbit. The results of the checks were all positive and the DGA has now declared that it’s "all systems go"!

In related news, Astrium has installed a Helios ground station in Gelsdorf that will enable users in Germany to obtain the same direct access to the system that the programme's four original partner countries enjoy. Astrium is also working on a sixth station in Greece, which will be fully operational in the upcoming months.

Since development work first began on Helios I over 20 years ago, Astrium has been prime contractor for both space (satellites) and ground user segments for military space observation systems serving the French military. Only the United States can rival the performance and operational levels of its European counterpart.