LIVE: Ariane Flight VA204 - ARABSAT 5C and SES 2/CHIRP - September 21, 2011

[satlaunch]

Another Ariane 5 is delivered to the Spaceport in French Guiana
June 10, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA204

Arianespace is keeping up its Ariane 5 mission pace with this week's arrival of components in French Guiana for the fifth heavy-lift vehicle to be launched from the Spaceport in 2011.

These Ariane 5 ECA elements were delivered by the MN Toucan, which is one of two roll-on/roll-off vessels used to transport launch vehicles from their production sites in Europe to French Guiana.

Arianespace is targeting a total of six Ariane 5 flights during 2011, with the initial three already performed this year having delivered a combined payload performance of nearly 37,000 kg.

Preparations are well advanced for the fourth Ariane 5 flight this year, with its satellite passengers – ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R – now undergoing their final processing in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility. These two spacecraft will be orbited on another of the workhorse launcher’s dual-payload missions, which is scheduled for July 1 from French Guiana.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/806.asp

[bolun]

SES-2 arrives in French Guiana for Arianespace’s fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2011

August 5, 2011 – Ariane Flight V204

Payload preparations for Arianespace’s next mission are now underway following the delivery of SES-2 – one of two telecommunications satellites to be lofted during the workhorse Ariane 5 launcher’s fifth heavy-lift flight in 2011.

Built by the U.S.-based Orbital Sciences Corporation for SES WORLD SKIES, the SES-2 spacecraft arrived in French Guiana aboard a chartered An-124 cargo jetliner, and was transported from Cayenne’s Rochambeau International Airport to the Spaceport’s payload preparation facilities.

SES-2 is based on Orbital’s Enhanced STAR™ 2.4 satellite bus and is a hybrid C- and Ku-band spacecraft that will serve North America.

In addition to the 24 active C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders of 36 MHz capacity each for its relay duties, SES-2 also carries the Commercially Hosted InfraRed Payload (CHIRP) for the U.S. Air Force – which integrates a wide-field of view sensor in the satellite.

The SES-2 satellite will have a mass at liftoff of approximately 3,152 kg., and is to be orbited by Ariane 5 along with Arabsat 5C for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat).  This mission is set for September 9.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/829.asp

[Chris Bergin]

Thread title changed for the new date.

[Jester]

August 9, 2011

The second of two passengers for Arianespace’s upcoming Ariane 5 mission
arrived in French Guiana this week, with the Arabsat-5C satellite now
joining SES-2 – which was delivered to the Spaceport earlier in the month.

Arabsat-5C landed at Cayenne’s Rochambeau International Airport aboard a
chartered An-124 cargo jetliner, where the spacecraft was unloaded and
readied for its transfer by road to the Spaceport near the city of Kourou.

This fifth-generation satellite for the Arab Satellite Communications
Organization (Arabsat) was built in a joint effort of EADS Astrium and
Thales Alenia Space.  As the lead partner, Astrium supplied the Eurostar
E3000 platform and integrated the satellite, while Thales Alenia Space
designed and built the communications payload. This team also is upgrading
the ground control segment for the extended Arabsat satellite fleet with the
series of fifth-generation spacecraft.

Arabsat-5C is a multi-mission platform designed to provide capacity in both
the C- and Ka-bands for a range of communications services from Arabsat’s
20° E orbital position.  With its payload of 26 active transponders in
C-band and 12 in Ka-band, Arabsat-5C will have a spacecraft power of 10kW at
the end of its 15-year design lifetime.

Ariane 5’s upcoming launch with Arabsat-5C and SES-2 is targeted for
September 9, and will continue Arianespace’s supply of commercial launch
services for two long-time customers. 

Arianespace has a relationship that spans more than 25 years with the Saudi
Arabia-based Arabsat telecommunications operator, dating back to the launch
of its first satellite – Arabsat 1A – in 1985 on an Ariane 3 vehicle.  A
total of seven Arabsat spacecraft have been lofted to date by Arianespace,
including Arabsat-5A, which was orbited by an Ariane 5 in June 2010.

To date, the SES group has entrusted a total of 34 satellites to Arianespace
for launch, of which its ASTRA 1N relay platform was orbited on the most
recent Ariane 5 mission, performed last week.   For the upcoming Arianespace
flight in September, the SES-2 spacecraft is based on Orbital’s Enhanced
STAR™ 2.4 bus and carries a hybrid C- and Ku-band payload that will serve
North America, along with the CHIRP (Commercially Hosted InfraRed Payload)
for the U.S. Air Force. 

[bolun]

Arabsat-5C is fueled for its upcoming Ariane 5 mission

August 22, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA204

The Arabsat-5C communications satellite has been fueled as preparations continue for the spacecraft’s September 9 launch on Arianespace’s next dual-passenger Ariane 5 flight from French Guiana.

This multi-mission satellite received its onboard propellant load in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation building, readying Arabsat-5C for the upcoming integration in Ariane 5’s payload “stack” along with co-passenger SES-2 for SES WORLD SKIES.

Arabsat-5C was built by EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space in a joint program for the satellite’s assembly and in-orbit delivery.  As the lead partner, Astrium supplied the Eurostar E3000 platform, with responsibility for assembling and testing the spacecraft. Thales Alenia Space designed and built the communications payload, which integrates C-band and Ka-band transponders.

The spacecraft will have an estimated launch mass of 4,630 kg., and is to operate from an orbital position of 20 deg. East to provide a wide range of communications relay services for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat). 

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/832.asp

[bolun]

The fifth Ariane 5 of 2011 is ready for integration of its dual-satellite payload

August 24, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA204

Arianespace has taken delivery of the Ariane 5 ECA for its fifth heavy-lift mission of 2011 at the Spaceport in French Guiana, which will orbit the Arabsat-5C and SES-2 telecommunications satellites on September 9.

The vehicle’s handover came with its transfer yesterday evening from the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building – where it was assembled by prime contractor EADS Astrium, to the Final Assembly Building – providing Arianespace the responsibility for integration of the two payloads and launch operations for the Ariane 5.

Arabsat-5C will have an estimated launch mass of 4,630 kg., while SES-2 will weigh in at approximately 3,152 kg. for liftoff.

Built in a joint effort of Europe’s EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, Arabsat-5C is a fifth-generation satellite for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat).   This multi-mission platform is designed to provide capacity in both the C- and Ka-bands for a range of communications services from Arabsat’s 20 deg. East orbital position.

SES-2 was produced by the U.S.-based Orbital Sciences Corporation for SES WORLD SKIES, and is a hybrid C- and Ku-band spacecraft that will serve North America from an orbital slot of 87 deg. West.  Additionally, it carries the Commercially Hosted InfraRed Payload (CHIRP) for the U.S. Air Force – which integrates a wide-field of view sensor in the satellite.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/833.asp

[bolun]

Preparations for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission enter the payload integration phase

August 29, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA204

Payload integration for Arianespace’s fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2011 has begun with installation of the Arabsat-5C satellite atop the SYLDA dual-payload dispenser system at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

 Arabsat-5C will ride as the upper passenger in Ariane 5’s payload “stack,” being released first during the flight sequence.  Positioned on the canister-shaped dispenser, the Arabsat-5C/SYLDA combination is ready to be encapsulated in the Ariane 5’s payload fairing, and then installed over the lower passenger – SES-2 – which will be mated atop launcher’s core section.

The installation of Arabsat-5C on its SYLDA structure occurred today inside the Spaceport’s launch vehicle Final Assembly Building, with this activity performed in an assembly area adjacent to where the Ariane 5 is parked atop its mobile launch table.

Arabsat-5C is a multi-mission platform for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat), and will provide capacity in both the C- and Ka-bands for a range of communications services.  It has an estimated liftoff mass of approximately 4,630 kg., and will operate from Arabsat’s 20 deg. East orbital position.

The satellite was produced in a joint effort of Europe’s EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space.

Its SES-2 co-passenger for the Ariane 5 flight was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation of the U.S. for SES WORLD SKIES, and is a hybrid C- and Ku-band spacecraft that will serve North America from an orbital slot of 87 deg. West.  This platform has an estimated mass at liftoff of 3,152 kg., and it also carries the Commercially Hosted InfraRed Payload (CHIRP) for the U.S. Air Force – which integrates a wide-field of view sensor in the satellite.

Arianespace has scheduled the heavy-lift Ariane 5 flight with Arabsat-5C and SES-2 for September 9.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/836.asp

[bolun]

Ariane 5's upper payload completes its integration at the Spaceport

August 30, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA204

Integration of the upper portion of Ariane 5’s dual-passenger “stack” has been completed, with the Arabsat-5C satellite and SYLDA dispenser system now encapsulated inside the launcher’s payload fairing in preparation for the September 9 Arianespace mission from French Guiana.

This encapsulation occurred today at the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, adjacent to where the Ariane 5 is waiting to receive Arabsat-5C and the mission’s co-passenger, SES-2.

The integration process’ next step will occur when SES-2 is positioned on the launcher’s core section as the lower payload, allowing the "stack" to be completed with installation of the Arabsat-5C/SYLDA/fairing combination atop it.

During the flight sequence, the payload fairing will be jettisoned first, followed by deployment of Arabsat-5C.  The SYLDA dispenser is then released, allowing the subsequent separation of SES-2 to complete the Arianespace mission.

Ariane 5 is the launch services industry’s workhorse vehicle of reference, with a demonstrated capability to perform efficient missions with dual satellite payloads.

For the upcoming flight, Arabsat-5C is the mission’s larger payload, with an estimated liftoff mass of 4,630 kg.  SES-2 will weigh approximately 3,152 kg. at launch.

The multi-mission Arabsat-5C was built for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat), and is to provide capacity in both the C- and Ka-bands for a range of communications services.  To be operated from Arabsat’s 20 deg. East orbital position, this spacecraft was manufactured in a joint effort by two European companies: EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space.

SES-2 was produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation of the U.S., and is a hybrid C- and Ku-band spacecraft for SES WORLD SKIES that will serve North America from an orbital slot of 87 deg. West.  In addition to its communications relay duties, SES-2 is carrying the Commercially Hosted InfraRed Payload (CHIRP) for the U.S. Air Force – which integrates a wide-field of view sensor in the satellite.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/837.asp

[Holi]

Arianespace Flight VA204: Ariane 5 ECA - Arabsat 5C - SES-2; Supplementary checks

Evry, August 31, 2011

Arianespace has decided to carry out supplementary checks on the engine powering the ESC-A cryogenic upper-stage in order to guarantee the highest level of quality of the Ariane 5 ECA launcher to be used on Flight VA204.

These operations will take a few days, after which the launch date of VA204 will be announced.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2011/8-31-2011.asp

[robertross]

extra checks on a turbo pump, currently a 1 week delay from the 9th

better safe.

Thanks Jester.

[Jester]

Talked to one of the orbital guys, they seem to be tracking to 19th now for launch
unconfirmed by Arianespace currently

[Holi]

New launch date is September 20.

http://www.arianespace.com/news/mission-status.asp
http://twitter.com/#!/CNES_France/status/113614513315651584

Holi

[kevin-rf]

CHIRP article on aviation weekly:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2011/09/13/02.xml&headline=Hosted%20Payload%20Hailed%20For%20New%20Business%20Model&channel=defense

Wow, a US DOD payload riding a non US rocket. Is this a first?

[jacqmans]

The Ariane 5 flight with Arabsat-5C and SES-2 is set for September 20

September 13, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA204

Arianespace’s fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2011 is now scheduled for September 20, marking the wrap-up of this year’s flight activity with the heavy-lift launcher from French Guiana.

Payload integration has been completed as both the Arabsat-5C and SES-2 satellites are now installed atop Ariane 5, creating the launch vehicle’s dual payload “stack.” Arabsat-5C is riding as the upper passenger, positioned over the SES-2 in the lower slot.

The flight had been delayed for supplementary checks on the engine that powers Ariane 5’s cryogenic upper stage, which were performed as part of Arianespace’s commitment to quality and reliability.

“As we do not tolerate any defect on our launchers, there was no hesitation on our part in delaying this upcoming flight to ensure the highest level of quality for a successful mission,” said Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall. “With the launch sector’s ‘devastation’ caused by mission failures of other vehicles, Ariane 5 stands out with its track record of 45 consecutive successes.”

Arabsat-5C will serve as a multi-mission platform for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat), providing capacity in both the C- and Ka-bands for a range of communications services.  Built in a joint effort of Europe’s EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, it has a liftoff mass of approximately 4,630 kg. and will operate from Arabsat’s 20 deg. East orbital position.

The SES-2 spacecraft is to be utilized by SES WORLD SKIES from an orbital slot of 87 deg. West.   This Orbital Sciences Corp.-built hybrid C- and Ku-band spacecraft has an estimated mass at liftoff of 3,152 kg., and will serve North America.  It also carries the Commercially Hosted InfraRed Payload (CHIRP) for the U.S. Air Force – which integrates a wide-field of view sensor in the satellite.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/840.asp

[woods170]

CHIRP article on aviation weekly:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2011/09/13/02.xml&headline=Hosted%20Payload%20Hailed%20For%20New%20Business%20Model&channel=defense

Wow, a US DOD payload riding a non US rocket. Is this a first?

Minor nit: it's a DOD payload riding on a commercial satellite, which by itself is riding on a non US rocket.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news/mission-status.asp

Launch window for Ariane Flight VA204
Universal time (GMT)
From 9:38 p.m. to 11:02 p.m. on September 20

[antonioe]

CHIRP article on aviation weekly:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2011/09/13/02.xml&headline=Hosted%20Payload%20Hailed%20For%20New%20Business%20Model&channel=defense

Wow, a US DOD payload riding a non US rocket. Is this a first?

Minor nit: it's a DOD payload riding on a commercial satellite, which by itself is riding on a non US rocket.

Actually, my division (APG) did the CHIRP program at Orbital, so I'll be heading down to Kourou Monday (unless there is another snag) - I was last there in 1990 or so; at the time we were considering launching Taurus (classic) from the old Diamant pad and VAB (I don't think they exist anymore - at the time they were being used by the young Gendarmes as an ultralight runway and hangar...)

BTW, we DID break a number of political precedents for this mission... lots of people in Washington that could have said "no" in fact said "yes"...

[baldusi]

CHIRP article on aviation weekly:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/asd/2011/09/13/02.xml&headline=Hosted%20Payload%20Hailed%20For%20New%20Business%20Model&channel=defense

Wow, a US DOD payload riding a non US rocket. Is this a first?

Minor nit: it's a DOD payload riding on a commercial satellite, which by itself is riding on a non US rocket.

Actually, my division (APG) did the CHIRP program at Orbital, so I'll be heading down to Kourou Monday (unless there is another snag) - I was last there in 1990 or so; at the time we were considering launching Taurus (classic) from the old Diamant pad and VAB (I don't think they exist anymore - at the time they were being used by the young Gendarmes as an ultralight runway and hangar...)

BTW, we DID break a number of political precedents for this mission... lots of people in Washington that could have said "no" in fact said "yes"...

Not only that, but hosted payloads means a lot of the cost of the satellites stays in the US. If I'm not mistaken, final integration of the hosted payload, plus testing and integration of the Iridium fleet will be done by you because you are a US company. If there's no hosted payload, that part could very well have been done outside, right? So the US government save a lot of money, and keeps some more job on your country.
One of the things that I don't hear much, is what share of the total expenditure on the GSO market is US. People talk a lot about the LV, but those are what, 20% of the total? Spacecraft, payloads and I&T must be something like 60%. And I guess you are doing very well there ;-)

[gwiz]

Wow, a US DOD payload riding a non US rocket. Is this a first?

No, several Space Test Program payloads have flown on Ariane or Russian vehicles.

[Moe Grills]

September, 17th has come and gone, and  no launch.
Was there a typo on the thread heading?