LIVE: Ariane Flight VA 211 - Skynet 5D & Mexsat 3/Bicentenario - Dec 19, 2012

[satlaunch]

Evry, May 19, 2010

EADS Astrium selects Arianespace to launch the fourth satellite in the Skynet 5 constellation.

Jean-Yves Le Gall, Arianespace Chairman and CEO, announced today the launch contract signing of the Skynet 5D satellite with Astrium. Arianespace had already been chosen by Astrium to launch the Skynet 5A, 5B and 5C satellites.

Like the three previous spacecraft in the Skynet 5 family, Skynet 5D will be placed in geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 launcher from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana. Launch is scheduled for the first half of 2013.

Skynet 5D, secure broadband communications for armed forces

Skynet 5D will be orbited by Arianespace for Astrium, which is contracted to deliver the satellite in orbit to the company Paradigm Secure Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Astrium.

Astrium’s Secure SatCom Systems is the prime system integrator and system design authority for Skynet 5 and Paradigm offers secure communications services to the British armed forces, NATO, other European countries, the USA and Australia.

Built by Astrium using a Eurostar E-3000 LX platform, carrying powerful X-band transponders, Skynet 5D will weigh 4,800 kg. at launch. Previously, Arianespace orbited the Skynet 4B, 4C, 4E and 4F satellites for the British Ministry of Defence.

Ariane 5 European defense missions

Skynet 5D is the 35th military payload to have chosen an Ariane launch. This latest contract clearly illustrates the strategic facet of Ariane 5, which guarantees independent access to space for all European governments. The Ariane 5 launcher is one of the keys to the development of a common European security policy, since it plays a pivotal role in the indispensable space segment.

Since the beginning of the year, Arianespace has signed 7 launch contracts for geostationary satellites and 5 dedicated Soyuz launches.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2010/05-19-2010-skynet.asp

[jacqmans]

Heavy-lift cadence: Launcher assembly begins for Arianespace's seventh Ariane 5 mission in 2012

October 26, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA211
 
Initial build-up is underway at the Spaceport for Arianespace’s seventh Ariane 5 to be launched from French Guiana this year, initiating preparations to support this mid-December flight with the Skynet 5D and Mexsat 3 telecommunications satellites.
 
Designated Ariane Flight VA211, the mission maintains Arianespace’s sustained launch pace that benefits from designed-in flexibility of the Spaceport’s heavy-lift launcher processing flow. 

The Flight VA211 vehicle is beginning to take shape inside the Spaceport’s Launcher Assembly Building, while a nearly-completed Ariane 5 for Arianespace’s upcoming Flight VA210 currently is in the Final Assembly Building, ready to receive its EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 passengers for a November liftoff.
 
Flight VA211’s Skynet 5D passenger will ride in Ariane 5’s upper payload slot for deployment first during the mission, while Mexsat 3 is to be installed as the launcher’s lower passenger.
 
Skynet 5D was built by the Astrium division of EADS and is based on a high-power E3000 variant of the company’s Eurostar series. It will weigh approximately 5,000 kg. at launch and carry X-band transponders to provide secure voice and data communications for military operations in peacekeeping and battlefield conditions.  Users of the Skynet system include the British armed forces, other European countries’ militaries, NATO nations and Australia.
 
The Mexsat 3 passenger for Arianespace Flight VA211 is produced by U.S. satellite manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation, and will have a liftoff mass of nearly 3,050 kg. with its complement of extended C-band and Ku-band transponders.  The satellite will provide next-generation communications services throughout Mexico and its surrounding waters, with a design in-orbit lifetime of more than 15 years.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/969.asp

[jacqmans]

Ariane 5s are readied in parallel for Arianespace's next heavy-lift flights

October 31, 2012 – Ariane Flights VA210 & VA211

 In parallel, a key milestone was reached for Arianespace’s Flight VA211 with the completion of initial build-up for its Ariane 5, which has been assembled inside the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building.  This step was marked with installation of the ESC-A upper stage and vehicle equipment bay as a single unit atop the vehicle’s cryogenic core stage.

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 – currently occupied by Flight VA210’s Ariane 5.  The Final Assembly Building will become available once the Ariane 5 for Flight VA210 is transferred from this facility to the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone on the day before liftoff.
 
Arianespace’s Flight VA211 is targeted for mid-December with a dual-payload of the Skynet 5D and Mexsat 3 satellites.

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

[jacqmans]

Mexsat Bicentenario is delivered to French Guiana for its December launch on Ariane 5


November 21, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA211

 The second passenger for Arianespace’s next heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission – Mexsat Bicentenario – has arrived in French Guiana.
 
Built by satellite manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation, this telecommunications satellite will have an estimated liftoff mass of 2.900 kg.  It is based on Orbital’s GEOStar-2 spacecraft platform and will generate approximately 3.5 kilowatts of payload power, carrying 12 active extended Ku-band and 12 active extended C-band transponders.

Mexsat Bicentenario will provide communications services to Mexico and its surrounding waters from the 114.9 deg. West Longitude orbital slot, with a design mission lifetime of 15 years.
 
Orbital was selected by Boeing to provide the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) segment of the Mexsat satellite system for the Federal Government of Mexico, with this contribution consisting of the Mexsat Bicentenario spacecraft and the FSS ground segment – including the satellite command and control ground equipment and software, as well as training and operational documentation.

Mexsat Bicentenario was delivered to French Guiana’s Félix Eboué Airport this week aboard a chartered Boeing 747 cargo aircraft, and is joining the Skynet 5D military communications satellite that recently arrived in French Guiana for its pre-launch checkout at the Spaceport.
 
Skynet 5D and Mexsat Bicentenario will be orbited on December 19 by an Ariane 5, marking Arianespace’s seventh mission in 2012 with this heavy-lift workhorse launcher.  The year-ending Ariane 5 flight is designated VA211 in the Arianespace mission numbering system, designating the 211th Ariane mission since the family of European-built launch vehicles entered service in 1979.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/982.asp

[jacqmans]

Boeing Partner Orbital Completes MEXSAT Bicentenario Satellite

Satellite shipped to South American launch site
 
MEXSAT to provide communications services for Mexico
 
DULLES, Va., Nov. 26, 2012 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Orbital Sciences Corporation [NYSE: ORB] are a step closer to helping the government of Mexico provide advanced communications services throughout the country and surrounding maritime area with the completion of the MEXSAT Bicentenario communications satellite. Orbital designed, manufactured and tested MEXSAT Bicentenario before shipping the completed spacecraft to Kourou, French Guiana, where it is scheduled to be launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket on Dec. 19.
 
Under a contract with Boeing, Orbital completed the work on MEXSAT Bicentenario as part of a three-satellite order for the Federal Government of Mexico. As prime contractor for MEXSAT, Boeing is providing two larger satellites in the series that are scheduled for launch in 2013 and 2014. The Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes of Mexico will take over day-to-day operations of the satellites as they are launched and undergo on-orbit testing, verification and positioning.
 
"MEXSAT Bicentenario is based on Orbital’s flight-proven GEOStar-2 platform, which enabled us to deliver the spacecraft on a short delivery schedule," said Christopher Richmond, Orbital senior vice president of Communications Satellite Programs. "We are looking forward to a successful launch and a smooth on-orbit checkout sequence."
 
Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems is the overall integrator of the MEXSAT communications network, which will comprise three satellites, two ground telemetry and control sites, associated network operations systems, and reference user terminals. The second and third MEXSAT satellites will be Boeing 702HP geomobile satellites that will each supply 14 kilowatts of power and carry a 22-meter L-band reflector for mobile satellite services.
 
Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low Earth orbit, geosynchronous Earth orbit and planetary exploration spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to U.S. government agencies and laboratories. More information about Orbital can be found at www.orbital.com.
 
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2509

[jacqmans]

Arianespace's launcher family cadence: Ariane 5 joins Soyuz in mission preparations at the Spaceport

November 27, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA211

 The Spaceport is once again handling parallel campaigns with two different members of the Arianespace launcher family, as a heavy-lift Ariane 5 has moved to the Final Assembly Building to be readied for its December 19 flight, while a medium-lift Soyuz is now complete at a separate complex in French Guiana for a nighttime launch this Friday.
 
Arianespace’s mission with Ariane 5 is to orbit the Mexsat Bicentenario telecommunications satellite for Mexico and the European Skynet 5D military relay platform.  The launch is designated Flight VA211 in the company’s numbering system, signifying the upcoming 211th liftoff of an Ariane family vehicle from the Spaceport.
 
With the transfer of Flight VA211’s Ariane 5 to the Final Assembly Building within the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch complex today, it will be ready to receive the dual payload for Arianespace’s seventh flight with the heavy-lift workhorse vehicle in 2012.
 
In separate activity across the Spaceport in its northwestern sector, the Soyuz for Arianespace’s next medium-lift mission has been equipped with its Pléiades 1B observation satellite passenger at the ELS launch complex.  This is Flight VS04, notating Soyuz’ fourth mission at the Spaceport since it entered service at the facility in October 2011 – and the second liftoff in 2012 of the Russian-built vehicle from French Guiana.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/985-va211.asp

[jacqmans]

Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 flight enters the final payload integration phase

December 11, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA211

 The seventh Ariane 5 for liftoff in 2012 from French Guiana has begun its final payload integration process at the Spaceport , marking a new preparatory step for this December 19 mission with the Mexsat Bicentenario and Skynet 5D satellites.
 
During activity in the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, Mexsat Bicentenario was positioned atop Ariane 5’s core section – becoming the lower passenger in the launcher’s payload “stack.”  It will be deployed after the separation of Skynet 5D, which will ride as the Ariane 5’s upper passenger.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/993.asp
 
Mexsat Bicentenario is based on Orbital Sciences Corporation’s GEOStar-2 spacecraft platform, and has been designed to generate approximately 3.5 kilowatts of payload power for 12 active extended Ku-band and 12 active extended C-band transponders. Liftoff mass of the telecommunications satellite is approximately 2,900 kg. 

[jacqmans]

Payload integration is completed for Arianespace's year-ending Ariane 5 mission with Skynet 5D and Mexsat Bicentenario
 

October 14, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA211
 

The Skynet 5D satellite has joined its Mexsat Bicentenario co-passenger on Ariane 5, marking a new milestone in preparations for Arianespace’s seventh and final heavy-lift flight of 2012 from the Spaceport in French Guiana – scheduled for December 19.
 
Encapsulated in an ogive-shaped payload fairing, Skynet 5D was lowered into place on Tuesday over Mexsat Bicentenario – which had been installed atop Ariane 5’s cryogenic core stage during activity the previous day inside the Spaceport’s launch vehicle Final Assembly Building.
 
Skynet 5D is riding as the upper passenger in Ariane 5’s payload “stack,” to be deployed first in the launch sequence. This is the fourth satellite in the Skynet 5 series built by Astrium, which is the prime contractor for the British military satellite program – operated as a Private Finance Initiative with the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.

The Astrium Services business of Astrium operates the Skynet military satellite constellation and the ground network for all beyond-line-of-sight communications to the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the Cabinet Office. Astrium Services also provides Skynet-based communication services to other forces around the world, including the United States, Portugal and Australia.
 
The Skynet 5D relay platform is expected to reinforce and extend the operational services provided by the three Skynet 5 satellites already in orbit. It will be located over the Middle East – at a 53 deg. East orbital slot.  The first three Skynet 5 satellites also were launched by Arianespace on Ariane 5 vehicles.

Larger fuel tanks on this latest Skynet spacecraft will enable it to be repositioned more frequently to meet operational needs. Skynet 5D will extend the total commercially-owned X-band (Super High Frequency) to over 2 GHz of high powered beams across the globe.  To provide additional UHF capacity on Skynet 5D for military and government customers worldwide, Astrium Services earlier this year signed a multi-million dollar contract with Harris CapRock.

The Mexsat Bicentenario passenger to be launched December 19 with Skynet 5D on Ariane 5 is based on Orbital Sciences Corporation’s GEOStar-2 spacecraft platform. It will provide communications services to Mexico and its surrounding waters from the 114.9 deg. West Longitude orbital slot and has a design mission lifetime of 15 years.
 
Orbital was selected by Boeing to provide the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) segment of the Mexsat satellite system for the Federal Government of Mexico, with this contribution consisting of the Mexsat Bicentenario spacecraft and the FSS ground segment – including satellite command and control ground equipment and software, as well as training and operational documentation.
 
The year-ending Ariane 5 mission with Mexsat Bicentenario and Skynet 5D is designated Flight VA211 in Arianespace’s numbering system, signifying the 211th liftoff for an Ariane family vehicle from the Spaceport.
 
http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/995.asp

[jacqmans]

Arianespace’s year-ending Ariane 5 flight is cleared for its December 19 liftoff

December 17, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA211


Arianespace’s seventh and final Ariane 5 launch of 2012 has received its “green light” for liftoff with today’s successful launch readiness review performed at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

The review is held prior to each Ariane 5 mission, ensuring that the heavy-lift launch vehicle and its payload are flight-ready, along with the Spaceport’s infrastructure and the network of downrange tracking stations.

This approval clears the way for Ariane 5’s rollout tomorrow from the Final Assembly Building to Ariane Launch Complex No. 3 at the Spaceport – positioning it for liftoff on Wednesday, December 19 during a launch window that opens at 6:49 p.m. and continues to 8:08 p.m., local time in French Guiana.

This flight will orbit a dual-passenger payload of the Mexsat Bicentenario telecommunications satellite for the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transport, along with the Skynet 5D secure military communications relay platform for the European operator Astrium Services, on behalf of the British Ministry of Defence.

Skynet 5D was built by Astrium Satellites of Stevenage, England, and will be the 38th military payload lofted by the Ariane launcher family.  Weighing approximately 4,800 kg. at launch and based on the Eurostar E3000 platform, it has an expected lifetime of 15 years and will be the 89th Astrium satellite launched by Arianespace. The spacecraft has a design lifetime of 16 years and weighs an estimated 2,935 kg. for liftoff.  It will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 114.9 deg. West to provide communication services to Mexico and its surrounding waters.

Mexsat Bicentenario was built by the Virginia, U.S.-based Orbital Sciences Corporation, based on its GEOStar-2 platform. This will be fifth Mexican satellite launched by Ariane and the 23rd Orbital-built satellite to be transported by Arianespace. The spacecraft has a design lifetime of 16 years and weighs about 3,000 kg. for liftoff.  It will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 114.9 deg. West to provide communication services to Mexico and its surrounding waters.

This year-ending Ariane 5 mission is designated VA211 in Arianespace’s flight numbering system, designating the 211th Ariane family liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana. Its total payload performance is approximately 8,635 kg. – which includes the two satellite passengers and their integration hardware for Ariane 5’s dual-payload deployment system.


http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/996.asp

[Lewis007]

Arianespace press kit has been issued

[Lewis007]

EADS Astrium launch kit available too

[jacqmans]

Arianespace’s 2012 wrap-up mission with Ariane 5 is ready for its liftoff from the Spaceport

December 18, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA211


The seventh – and final – Ariane 5 mission of 2012 is ready for its December 19 liftoff as the vehicle for this dual-payload Arianespace flight is now in the Spaceport’s launch zone at French Guiana.

Carrying the Skynet 5D secure military relay platform and Mexsat Bicentenario telecommunications satellite, the mission will bring a busy 12 months to a close – during which Arianespace already has performed six heavy-lift Ariane 5 flights and two medium-lift Soyuz launches from French Guiana, along with its support for the lightweight Vega’s debut at the Spaceport.  In addition, the company’s Starsem affiliate launched one Soyuz from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

For Arianespace’s year-ending mission, its Ariane 5 rolled out today from the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building to Ariane Launch Complex No. 3, where it is scheduled for a December 19 liftoff.  The launch window opens at 6:49 p.m. and continues to 8:08 p.m., local time in French Guiana.

Skynet 5D will be released first during the mission, deployed at 27 minutes after liftoff from the upper passenger position in Ariane 5’s payload “stack.”  It will be followed by Mexsat Bicentenario’s separation nine minutes later.

This is the 211th mission of an Ariane family launcher, and will be the 67th Ariane 5 launch to date. The flight’s total payload lift performance is an estimated 8,635 kg., which includes approximately 7,735 kg. for the two satellite passengers.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/997.asp

[Prober]

[woods170]

What? Wanna turn it into a LIVE-thread already? 

[spaceboy89]

Jonathan Amos gives a video overview of the Skynet-5D spacecraft.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20774276

[Galactic Penguin SST]

HUGE photo dump of the pre-launch hardware flow: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkpro/sets/72157632067796626/

[Chris Bergin]

Moved for live coverage.

[jacqmans]

The final countdown is underway for Arianespace’s year-ending Ariane 5 mission
December 19, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA211


Arianespace has begun the final countdown for this evening’s Ariane 5 mission from the Spaceport, which is to orbit a dual-passenger payload consisting of the Skynet 5D and Mexsat Bicentenario satellites.

Liftoff is planned during a one-hour, 19-minute launch window that opens at 6:49 p.m. local time in French Guiana, initiating this seventh – and final – flight of 2012 with Arianespace’s workhorse heavy-lift launcher.

Skynet 5D will be deployed first in the flight sequence, with its release scheduled at 27 minutes into the mission – to be followed Mexsat Bicentenario’s separation from the Ariane 5 nine minutes later.

Weighing approximately 4,800 kg. at launch, Skynet 5D is the fourth satellite in the Skynet 5 series built by Astrium, which is the prime contractor for the British military satellite program – operated as a Private Finance Initiative with the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.

The spacecraft is expected to reinforce and extend the operational services provided by the three Skynet 5 satellites already in orbit, and will be located over the Middle East – at a 53 deg. East orbital slot.

Following its deployment by Ariane 5, Mexsat Bicentenario – which is based on Orbital Sciences Corporation’s GEOStar-2 platform – will provide communications services to Mexico and its surrounding waters from the 114.9 deg. West Longitude orbital slot. It weighs an estimated 2,935 kg. for liftoff.

Orbital was selected by Boeing to provide the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) segment of the Mexsat satellite system for the Federal Government of Mexico, with this contribution consisting of the Mexsat Bicentenario spacecraft and the FSS ground segment – including satellite command and control ground equipment and software, as well as training and operational documentation.


http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/998.asp

[Prober]

Less than 1/2 hour to transmission.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Weather seems to be fine for launch - all the nasty rain showers are either out over the Atlantic or located further inland.

BTW for some light pre-launch reading, I would suggest my fictitious story on how this launch is related to what may happen on this Friday...... 

[Satori]

Weather seems to be fine for launch - all the nasty rain showers are either out over the Atlantic or located further inland.

BTW for some light pre-launch reading, I would suggest my fictitious story on how this launch is related to what may happen on this Friday...... 

A good reading, indeed

[Satori]

Let's go for the last orbital launch of 2012!!!!

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Mr Le Gall a happy man, as he should be.

[Prober]

[Chris Bergin]

Green board at T-12 mins.

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Keep Calm and Carry On sticker on the wall

[Prober]

[Prober]

[Chris Bergin]

T-7 mins.

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Mexican sat has better looking reps than the British one

[Chris Bergin]

T-180 seconds.

[Prober]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Mexican sat has better looking reps than the British one

And apparently Arianespace is proud to get a larger proportion of women engineers working for them.....

[Satori]

[Star One]

Mexican sat has better looking reps than the British one

We are not hearing much about Skynet, assume because it's a military satellite there is less info to say about it?

[Chris Bergin]

T-2 mins.

[Chris Bergin]

Mexican sat has better looking reps than the British one

We are not hearing much about Skynet, assume because it's a military satellite there is less info to say about it?

Yeah, check out Jon Amos' video about it. He couldn't even show parts of the sat.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

I checked the live broadcast for the last few A5 launches, and all aim for H0 (main engine ignition) at XX:XX:00. This should fill in the gap of launch times for the last few A5 launches....

[Chris Bergin]

T-30 seconds.

[Chris Bergin]

LAUNCH!

[Prober]

[Chris Bergin]

[Chris Bergin]

[Chris Bergin]

MaxQ

[Chris Bergin]

[Chris Bergin]

Staging. Booster sep.

[Chris Bergin]

Fairing sep.

[Prober]

[Star One]

Ariane V always seems to pause around on the ground a bit once the countdown reaches 0 & then tears off the launchpad at a cracking speed once it gets going.

@ Chris as you mentioned Jon Amos video was good, interesting to note as he points out parts of the satellite are covered up.

[Chris Bergin]

Lots of promos.

Nine mins to go until end of powered flight.

[Chris Bergin]

[Star One]

Is this 2012's last launch?

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Is this 2012's last launch?

This is the last announced planned orbital launch of 2012 from anywhere in the world (unless Iran slips yet another launch before the new year, which is highly unlikely following multiple failures).

[Galactic Penguin SST]

While everyone has eyes to Orbital's fleet of rockets (and those Cyngi), it's the production of medium sized communication satellites that Orbital is doing best. Maybe in a few years they might even beat out SS Loral on the commercial market....

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Upper stage shutdown.

[Chris Bergin]

Ballistic Phase.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Skynet 5D separation!

Mexsat-3 separates in 9 minutes....

[Chris Bergin]

There goes Skynet 5B, on it's way to become self-aware

[Chris Bergin]

That's Paddington Bear! Commentator didn't know, as expected.

Hope he has his marmalade sandwiches secured!

[Chris Bergin]

Prep for Mexsat 3 sep.

[Chris Bergin]

S/C Sep for Mexsat 3! Congrats to all involved.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Meh; couldn't watch the broadcast.  I'd forgotten the high-bandwidth required even for Arianespace's 'low-bandwidth' option.  My 4-8Mbps broadband just isn't fast enough.

[Satori]

Congratulations to all!! Amazing launch and an amazing way to close the launch schedule of 2012!

[Chris Bergin]

Mr Le Gall still happy....10 launches for his company in 2012.

[robertross]

That's Paddington Bear! Commentator didn't know, as expected.

Hope he has his marmalade sandwiches secured!

Haha. Nice.

Congrats to the teams on this launch, and a great year.

Thanks for the coverage everyone!
(still jumping for joy at Chris Hadfield's launch earlier today...hehehe)

[jacqmans]

On a theme of “10,” Arianespace completes another year of launch successes

December 19, 2012 – Ariane Flight VA211

Arianespace’s Ariane 5 flight with the Skynet 5D and Mexsat Bicentenario satellite passengers today wrapped up another busy year of company launch activity, with its successes highlighted by the theme of “10.”

During 2012, the Arianespace launcher family performed a total of 10 missions from the Spaceport in French Guiana, led by the heavy-lift Ariane 5 with its 10-metric-ton payload lift performance – which has logged 53 consecutive successes during the past 10 years.

Arianespace’s mission cadence demonstrated in 2012 was called “remarkable” by Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall. 

The Arianespace launcher family missions performed from French Guiana this year were composed of seven heavy-lift Ariane 5 flights, two with the medium-lift Soyuz, and the lightweight Vega’s inaugural launch.

Le Gall paid homage to all of the players who contributed to the 2012 successes, including the European Space Agency, France’s CNES space agency, the Spaceport teams in French Guiana, Europe’s industrial network for Ariane and Vega, the Russian companies for Soyuz, and the team at Arianespace.

Along with the Spaceport’s launch successes was an additional Soyuz mission from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, performed by Arianespace’s Starsem affiliate.

For tonight’s mission, Ariane 5 deployed its Skynet 5D payload first, followed by Mexsat Bicentenario.

Built by Astrium, Skynet 5D weighed approximately 4,800 kg. at launch, and is the fourth for the British military’s Skynet 5 satellite system.  This spacecraft is designed to reinforce and extend the operational services provided by the three other Skynet 5 satellites – all orbited by Ariane 5 – and will be located over the Middle East at a 53 deg. East orbital slot.  The Skynet program is operated as a Private Finance Initiative with the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.

Mexsat Bicentenario weighed an estimated 2,935 kg. for liftoff, and is based on Orbital Sciences Corporation’s GEOStar-2 platform.  It is to provide communications co and its surrounding waters from the 114.9 deg. West Longitude orbital slot. bital slot.
Orbital was designated by Boeing to provide the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) segment of the Mexsat satellite system for the Federal Government of Mexico.

As Arianespace celebrated a 2012 to remember in terms of its launch activity, the company already is looking to next year’s activity – with preparations well advanced for an Ariane 5 launch in February, which is to orbit the Amazonas 3 and Azerspace/Africasat-1 telecommunications satellites.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/999.asp

[Rocket Science]

Congradulations, well done!    Wow, “extra” happy Santa hats... 

[brueyh1976]

congratulations to all concerned

[Mapperuo]

Congratulations.

Video:

[jacqmans]

Ariane 5 ECA orbits Skynet 5D and Mexsat Bicentenario satellites: 10 years of success, 10 tons of performance, 10 launches in 2012
Kourou, December 19, 2012

On Wednesday, December 19, 2012, Arianespace successfully carried out the 53rd Ariane 5 launch in a row, orbiting two payloads: the Skynet 5D military communications satellite for Astrium Services, on behalf of the British Ministry of Defence, and the Mexsat Bicentenario telecommunications satellite for the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transport.

10 years of success

Today's successful mission, the 53rd in a row for the European launcher in ten years, once again proves the reliability and availability of the Ariane 5 launch system.

This successful mission, the seventh for Ariane 5 in 2012 also perfectly illustrates the strategic importance of Ariane, which guarantees independent access to space for Europe. Arianespace continues to confirm its position as the world’s benchmark launch system for all telecommunications operators, whether civil or military.

10 tons of performance

Today, Ariane 5 with its 10 tons of performance 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 launches of dedicated scientific spacecraft into special orbits.

10 launches in 2012

With seven Ariane 5 missions, two by Soyuz and the inaugural flight of the Vega light launcher in 2012, all from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, Arianespace reaffirms its position as the company offering the widest range of launch opportunities.

In 2012 these three launchers orbited a total of 17 satellites for 15 different customers, with a cumulated payload weight exceeding 75,000 kg.

The company's Euro-Russian subsidiary, Starsem, also carried out a Soyuz launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. 

A launch for civil and military telecommunications

Skynet 5D is the 38th military payload to be orbited by an Ariane launcher. Arianespace has already launched seven Skynet satellites for the British Ministry of Defence.

Mexsat Bicentenario is the fifth Mexican satellite to be launched by Ariane, following Satmex 3, 4, 5 and 6 (previously known as the Morelos and Solidaridad satellites).

Skynet 5D/Mexsat Bicentenario 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 Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 6:49 pm local time in Kourou (3:49 pm in Mexico City, 4:49 pm in Washington, D.C., 21:49 UT and 10:49 pm in Paris).

Skynet 5D was launched on behalf of Astrium Services, which will provide secure telecommunications services to the British Ministry of Defence, NATO and other countries which already use the Skynet family of military communications satellites. Built by Astrium Satellites, Skynet 5D weighed about 4,800 kg at launch. It is based on the Eurostar E3000 platform, and will offer a design life of approximately 15 years from its orbital position at 53 degrees East. Skynet 5D is the 89th Astrium satellite to be launched by Arianespace.

Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, Virginia, Mexsat Bicentenario is based on a GEOStar-3 platform. It weighed about 3,000 kg at liftoff, and will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 114.9 degrees West. Equipped with eight C-band and eight Ku-band transponders, it will provide telecommunications services across Mexico. Mexsat Bicentenario is the 23rd satellite built by Orbital Sciences Corporation to be launched by Arianespace.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2012/12-19-2012-va211-launch.asp

[jacqmans]

Ariane 5 completes seven launches in 2012

VA211 launch 19 December 2012

This evening, an Ariane 5 launcher lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place two telecom satellites, Skynet-5D and Mexsat Bicentenario, into their planned transfer orbits. 

Liftoff of flight VA211, the 67th Ariane 5 mission, came at 21:49 GMT (22:49 CET; 18:49 French Guiana). The target injection orbit had a perigee altitude of 249.7 km, an apogee altitude at injection of 35 977 km and an inclination of 2°.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/Ariane_5_completes_seven_launches_in_2012

[jcm]

I checked the live broadcast for the last few A5 launches, and all aim for H0 (main engine ignition) at XX:XX:00. This should fill in the gap of launch times for the last few A5 launches....

Thanks! So 2149:07 for liftoff...

[jacqmans]

MEXSAT Bicentenario Satellite Sends 1st Signals from Space

Satellite built by Boeing partner Orbital is 1st of 3-satellite order
 
2 Boeing-built satellites for MEXSAT will further strengthen communications services in Mexico
 
KOUROU, French Guiana, Dec. 19, 2012 -- The MEXSAT Bicentenario satellite, built by Boeing [NYSE: BA] partner Orbital Sciences Corporation [NYSE: ORB], sent its first signals from space today following launch from Kourou aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.
 
Bicentenario is the first of three MEXSAT satellites for the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) of Mexico that will enhance the country's communications for domestic, military, civil and humanitarian needs.
 
Orbital produced Bicentenario under contract to Boeing. The hybrid C-band and Ku-band communications satellite is based on Orbital’s flight-proven GEOStar-2 platform. As the MEXSAT prime contractor, Boeing will build the remainder of the order, two 702HP geomobile satellites, for launches scheduled in 2013 and 2014.
 
"The MEXSAT team has achieved this milestone thanks to a strong partnership between Orbital, Boeing and the SCT," said Christopher Richmond, Orbital senior vice president of Communications Satellite Programs. "We look forward to supporting our customer through post-launch testing and subsystem deployments and into operation."
 
"Today's successful launch brings us closer to the establishment of the MEXSAT system, which will enhance Mexico's disaster-relief and emergency services, and provide satellite broadcasting capabilities in telemedicine and tele-education," said Craig Cooning, chief executive officer of Boeing Satellite Systems International and vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems.
 
Boeing will integrate the MEXSAT network, which will include the three satellites, two ground telemetry and control sites, associated network operations systems, and reference user terminals. In addition to the Bicentenario, Orbital is providing the command and control ground equipment and

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2540

[jacqmans]

[Lewis007]

Video of launch processing & launch

[jacqmans]

MEXSAT Bicentenario Satellite Completes On-orbit Testing

Spacecraft built by Boeing subcontractor, Orbital Sciences Corporation, is 1st of 3 satellites

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 5, 2013 – The MEXSAT Bicentenario satellite,
built by Boeing [NYSE: BA] partner Orbital Sciences Corporation [NYSE:
ORB], has completed on-orbit testing and has been accepted by the customer,
the first step to establishing a space-based communications network that
will markedly improve Mexico’s satellite communications capabilities.

The Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (Secretary of Communications
and Transportation) of Mexico, through Telecomunicaciones de Mexico
(Telecomm), became responsible for operating the satellite today following
a successful launch in December and completion of functionality testing.
Bicentanario is the first of three satellites within the MEXSAT system,
which will enhance communications for domestic, military, civil and
humanitarian needs.

“Deployment of the first satellite means that enhanced services, ranging
from disaster relief to rural education to government agency operations,
will soon be available throughout Mexico,” said Christopher Richmond,
Orbital senior vice president of Communications Satellite Programs.

Orbital produced Bicentenario under a subcontract agreement with Boeing,
the MEXSAT program prime contractor. The hybrid C-band and Ku-band
communications satellite is based on Orbital’s flight-proven GEOStar-2
platform. Boeing is building the remaining spacecraft, two 702HP geomobile
satellites, for launches scheduled in 2013 and 2014.

“The Boeing satellites are progressing on schedule,” said Craig Cooning,
chief executive officer of Boeing Satellite Systems International.  “We
look forward to the completion of the first Boeing 702 geomobile satellite
– Centenario – at the end of this year, and to completing the entire MEXSAT
system in 2014.”

Boeing is integrating the MEXSAT network, which includes two ground
telemetry and control sites, associated operations systems and reference
user terminals in addition to the three satellites. For Bicentenario,
Orbital is also providing command and control ground equipment, software,
and training and operational documentation.