Author Topic: LIVE: Ariane 5 Flight VA222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - April 26, 2015 (20:00 UTC)  (Read 64465 times)

Offline bolun

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http://www.arianespace.com/news-feature-story/2014/10-17-2014-combined_missions.asp

Quote
... launcher elements for the initial Ariane 5 flight of 2015 were delivered this week to French Guiana aboard the MN Toucan – one of two sea-going vessels performing transportation rotations between Europe and South America. It marked an initial step for this mission, Flight VA222, to launch two spacecraft: Telenor Satellite Broadcasting’s THOR 7 and SICRAL 2, which will be orbited in the framework of a turnkey contract that the Italian Defense Ministry and the French DGA armament agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement) have with Thales Alenia Space Italy.
« Last Edit: 04/29/2015 05:15 pm by Galactic Penguin SST »

Offline baldusi

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - TBD, 2015
« Reply #1 on: 10/18/2014 01:03 pm »
That seems like a second stage and one half of a fairing.

Offline bolun

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - TBD, 2015
« Reply #2 on: 11/22/2014 06:56 am »
The first Ariane 5 to be launched in 2015 begins its Spaceport build-up

November 21, 2014 – Ariane Flight VA222

As Arianespace prepares to close out a busy year of mission activity, the initial Ariane 5 for launch in 2015 already is beginning to take shape at the Spaceport.

This vehicle started its build-up in the dedicated Launcher Integration Building, where the cryogenic core stage was raised into place over one of two mobile launch tables available for the heavy-lift Arianespace workhorse.

To accompany the assembly process, Ariane 5’s two solid propellant boosters were rolled out for their mating with the core stage – clearing the way for continued integration.

The activity is being performed by prime contractor Airbus Defence and Space, which will deliver the Ariane 5 to Arianespace for payload integration, final checkout and launch.

Arianespace is targeting a liftoff next March for the launcher, which is to carry Telenor Satellite Broadcasting’s THOR 7 commercial relay satellite and the Sicral 2 telecommunications platform for Telespazio, on behalf of the French and Italian military forces.

For the mission, THOR 7 is to ride in Ariane 5’s upper passenger position, with Sicral 2 located below it in the SYLDA dispenser system.  Designated Flight VA222, this launch will be the 222nd liftoff of an Ariane family vehicle from the Spaceport.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2014/1238.asp

Offline Hobbes-22

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - TBD, 2015
« Reply #3 on: 11/23/2014 12:14 pm »
Is that construction inside the nozzle (tubing from the rim inward, and the big metal ring halfway up) part of the nozzle, or is it there to support the purple blankets around the nozzle?

Offline woods170

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - TBD, 2015
« Reply #4 on: 11/23/2014 09:01 pm »
Is that construction inside the nozzle (tubing from the rim inward, and the big metal ring halfway up) part of the nozzle, or is it there to support the purple blankets around the nozzle?

Transportation support for the nozzle.

Offline Adonis1

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - TBD, 2015
« Reply #5 on: 11/29/2014 06:08 pm »


Flight Preparation VA 222

Offline Runerdieker

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - TBD, 2015
« Reply #6 on: 12/01/2014 10:29 am »
Between 12 and 22 seconds in this movie, it seems some kind of tropical bird is screaming inside the building. Can birds get into the BAF??

Offline woods170

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - TBD, 2015
« Reply #7 on: 12/01/2014 11:23 am »
Between 12 and 22 seconds in this movie, it seems some kind of tropical bird is screaming inside the building. Can birds get into the BAF??
Yes they can. Wouldn't be the first time, and likely not the last time either. BAF does have a number of doors, one of which is large enough to let the completed stack roll-out thru. How would one keep birds from flying in-and-out thru an open door that is hundreds of square meters in size?

« Last Edit: 12/01/2014 11:37 am by woods170 »

Offline Jester

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - TBD, 2015
« Reply #8 on: 12/03/2014 06:54 pm »
Except this is the BIL.... same issue applies however, you are basically in a jungle, stuff does get in, although they are pretty good at keeping them out but i've seen birds, spiders and bats.

that bird btw might not even be inside, i forgot the name but they are pretty loud.

Offline bolun

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - March, 2015
« Reply #9 on: 12/19/2014 09:51 am »

Offline bolun

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Offline Lewis007

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - March, 2015
« Reply #11 on: 01/21/2015 09:35 am »
The Ariane 5 rocket was moved from the BIL to the BAF building on January 19, to await the mating of the satellites.

Source: http://www.csgpreparationlancement.com/ariane/vol-ariane-222-transfert-du-bil-au-baf/

Offline Chris Bergin

I couldn't sleep, saw a great photo in a release from SSL today, thought we don't do enough on the satellite flow (as opposed to the LV flow) so threw together a short article :)

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/02/thor-7-ready-ship-ariane-5-launch/
« Last Edit: 02/13/2015 03:50 am by Chris Bergin »
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Offline Adonis1

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - April 16, 2015
« Reply #13 on: 02/23/2015 03:37 pm »
Thor 7 arrives in Guiana.

broadbandtvnews.com

Offline Salo

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - April 16, 2015
« Reply #14 on: 02/23/2015 09:57 pm »
http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2015/1262.asp

French Guiana welcomes the THOR 7 spacecraft for launch by Ariane 5
February 23, 2015 – Ariane Flight VA222

The THOR 7 satellite for Arianespace’s first Ariane 5 mission in 2015 has arrived in French Guiana, marking the start of payload preparations for this dual-passenger flight from the Spaceport – which is scheduled for an April liftoff.

THOR 7 – produced by SSL (Space Systems/Loral) for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) – was delivered this month by a cargo jetliner, which landed at Félix Eboué International Airport near the capital city of Cayenne. Following unloading, the spacecraft was transferred by road for initial processing, including a “fit-check” validation with the adapter that will serve as its interface with Ariane 5, inside the Spaceport’s S5C clean room facility.

Based on the SSL 1300 platform, THOR 7 is equipped with 11 Ku-band transponders in order to provide dedicated capacity for broadcast services in Central and Eastern Europe. It also includes a Ka-band payload, which will be used to meet the growing demand for broadband communications within the offshore sector – offering coverage over the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the Red Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean.

THOR 7 will be the second satellite launched for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting by Arianespace, following the October 2009 orbiting of THOR 6 – which also utilized a heavy-lift Ariane 5.

Joining THOR 7 on Arianespace’s April mission is the Sicral 2 military telecommunications satellite, to be launched in the framework of a turnkey contract that the Italian Defense Ministry and the French DGA armament agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement) have with Thales Alenia Space Italy. It will provide strategic and tactical telecommunications links for the French and Italian military forces, as well as reserve telecommunications capacity for other NATO nations. Telespazio, among other things, is responsible for the launch service.

Offline Adonis1

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - April 16, 2015
« Reply #15 on: 02/24/2015 03:19 pm »



Offline Salo

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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - TBD, 2015
« Reply #17 on: 03/07/2015 05:24 am »
Sicral 2 arrives in French Guiana for Arianespace’s next dual-payload Ariane 5 mission

March 6, 2015 – Ariane Flight VA222

Both payloads for Arianespace’s first heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission of 2015 are now in French Guiana, with arrival of the Sicral 2 satellite this week.

Delivered aboard a cargo jetliner, Sicral 2 landed at Félix Eboué International Airport near French Guiana’s capital city of Cayenne and was transferred by road to the Spaceport, where it is scheduled for an April liftoff on a dual-passenger mission.

Sicral-2 is a military telecommunications satellite that will provide strategic and tactical telecommunications links for French and Italian military forces, as well as reserve telecommunications capacity for other NATO nations. The spacecraft will be launched in the framework of a turnkey contract that the Italian Defense Ministry and the French DGA armament agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement) have with Thales Alenia Space Italy. Telespazio, among other things, is responsible for the launch service.

On Ariane 5 Flight VA222, Sicral 2 is to be joined by THOR 7 – a communications satellite for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc). Produced by SSL (Space Systems/Loral), THOR 7 is equipped with 11 Ku-band transponders for broadcast services in Central and Eastern Europe, and a Ka-band payload to meet the growing demand for broadband communications within the offshore sector.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2015/1264.asp
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Offline Jim

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Re: Ariane 5 VA 222 - THOR 7 and SICRAL 2 - April 16, 2015
« Reply #18 on: 03/07/2015 02:01 pm »
Had a walk through of the BAF and saw the fairing in process and the vehicle.

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Had a walk through of the BAF and saw the fairing in process and the vehicle.

You are down at Kourou right now!? Wow, not many of our members have been to there yet, let alone walking into their facilities! Have you bumped into Jester yet?  ;)
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