Author Topic: Ariane 5 Flight VA223 - DIRECTV-15 & SKY MEXICO-1 - May 27, 2015 (Read 48917 times)

jacqmans · « **on:** 04/02/2015 12:25 pm »

The mission pace continues: DIRECTV-15 arrives for Arianespace’s heavy-lift Ariane 5 flight in May

April 1, 2015 – Ariane Flight VA223

The Spaceport is continuing its sustained mission pace in support of Arianespace’s 2015 launch schedule, with the initial payload having now arrived in French Guiana for another of its heavy-lift Ariane 5 missions.

DIRECTV-15 was delivered to French Guiana yesterday aboard a chartered Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner that landed at Félix Eboué Airport near the capital city of Cayenne. Protected in a 14-meter-long shipping container, the broadcast relay satellite was unloaded and transferred by road to the Spaceport, where it now is being readied for pre-launch checkout in the S5 payload preparation facility.

This spacecraft will be one of two passengers for an Arianespace heavy-lift mission in May, which is designated VA223 in the company’s numbering system.

The DIRECTV-15 satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space and will have a liftoff mass of approximately 6,200 kg. As one of the most powerful broadcast satellites ever built for the United States (with an 18-kW end-of-life power), the relay platform will provide additional services for more than 20 million customers of DIRECTV – a world-leading digital television entertainment services provider.

Adonis1 · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/03/2015 06:39 pm »

DIRECTV 15, the most powerful US broadcast satellite, has left Airbus Defence and Space’s cleanrooms in Toulouse (France). It will now be shipped to Kourou for launch by Ariane 5 in May 2015.

DIRECTV 15 is based on the highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform. The spacecraft’s launch mass is 6,200 kg and it will have an end of life power of 18 kW, featuring a record breaking number of radio-frequency power amplifiers (150+). DIRECTV 15 will provide additional digital television entertainment services for more than 20 million DIRECTV customers in the United States.

airbusgroup.com

jacqmans · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/17/2015 02:29 pm »

Orbital ATK Delivers DIRECTV's SKYM-1 Commercial Satellite to Launch Site

Company Completes GEOStar-2-Based Spacecraft in Just 20 Months
Launch Aboard Ariane 5 Rocket Scheduled for Late May

(Dulles, Virginia 17 April 2015) – Orbital ATK, Inc. (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, today announced it delivered the SKY MEXICO-1 (SKYM-1) satellite to the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana for its DIRECTV customer. The SKYM-1 satellite, due to launch in late May, will provide direct-to-home television broadcast services to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean for DIRECTV.

The company produced the satellite at its Dulles, Virginia manufacturing facility in just 20 months, four months ahead of the original baseline schedule. The SKYM-1 satellite, which is based on the flight-proven GEOStar-2TM platform, will now undergo pre-launch preparations for a late May launch aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.

“Our ability to deliver this satellite well ahead of schedule demonstrates the effective, experienced performance of our Orbital ATK team. We take great pride in the short cycle manufacturing process that results in high quality and reliable satellites for our customers,” said Chris Richmond, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s commercial satellite division. “SKYM-1 is our first satellite built for DIRECTV and represents what we hope will be the start of a longstanding, successful relationship.”

"Orbital ATK's execution on this program has been phenomenal," said Phil Goswitz, Senior Vice President of Space and Communications for DIRECTV. "Its program team worked with DIRECTV to successfully manage several technical hurdles and delivered four months ahead of schedule. Orbital ATK exceeded its commitment to us, and that's what everyone is looking for in this industry."

jacqmans · « **Reply #3 on:** 04/21/2015 08:06 pm »

http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/insideOA/SKYM-1/default.aspx

Lewis007 · « **Reply #4 on:** 04/23/2015 06:50 am »

DirecTV-15 has been fueled in preparation for launch.
Source: CSG facebook

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #5 on:** 04/23/2015 03:05 pm »

Where does the launch vehicle component delivery stand for this mission?
When does launch vehicle assembly begin?
I've not read mention of either in this thread.
I didn't find any mention of these processes in the Arianespace mission updates.
Curious and advance thanks,
Zubenelgenubi

Jester · « **Reply #6 on:** 04/23/2015 05:47 pm »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 04/23/2015 03:05 pm

Where does the launch vehicle component delivery stand for this mission?
When does launch vehicle assembly begin?
I've not read mention of either in this thread.
I didn't find any mention of these processes in the Arianespace mission updates.
Curious and advance thanks,
Zubenelgenubi

Already done in March.

Lewis007 · « **Reply #7 on:** 04/24/2015 06:58 am »

Arrival Sky Mexico 1 at Felix Eboué airport in French Gyuana on April 17
Source: http://www.csgpreparationlancement.com/ariane/vol-ariane-223-arrivee-de-skymexico-1/

bolun · « **Reply #8 on:** 05/06/2015 11:17 am »

Arianespace receives the Ariane 5 for its upcoming flight with two DIRECTV broadcast satellites

May 5, 2015 – Ariane Flight VA223

The Spaceport is busy with activity for Ariane 5’s next mission from French Guiana, with the heavy-lift launcher now delivered to Arianespace and its two satellite passengers continuing their checkout process.

During activity in the Spaceport’s central zone today, Ariane 5 was moved from the Launcher Integration Building – where it underwent the basic build-up process by industrial prime contractor Airbus Defence and Space – to the Final Assembly Building. This step marks the transfer of responsibility to Arianespace for the payload integration, final validations and launch.

At the same time, the two passengers are being readied for their liftoff. Both satellites on this upcoming mission, designated Flight VA223 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system, are for the same customer: DIRECTV, which is one of the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services with more than 37 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America.

DirecTV-15 will ride in Ariane 5’s upper passenger position and is among the most powerful broadcast satellites ever built for the United States. Produced by Airbus Defence and Space using the Eurostar E3000 platform, it will provide services in the Ku-, Ka- and R-bands.

SKY Mexico-1 is an Orbital ATK, Inc.-built satellite based the GEOStar-2™ platform and carries Ku- and R-band transponders. It will be situated in the lower slot of Ariane 5’s payload arrangement, contained in the SYLDA dispenser system.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2015/1290.asp

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #9 on:** 05/07/2015 10:16 am »

French sources at CSG reports that this launch is now tracking May 27.

bolun · « **Reply #10 on:** 05/14/2015 04:26 pm »

DirecTV-15 and SKY México-1 are integrated for their Arianespace heavy-lift mission with Ariane 5

May 13, 2015 – Ariane Flight VA223

Arianespace’s upcoming mission to orbit two direct-to-home broadcast satellites from the Spaceport in French Guiana has made an important step closer to this month’s liftoff with the integration of DirecTV-15 and SKY México-1 on their heavy-lift Ariane 5 launcher.

During action in the upper levels of the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, SKY México-1 was installed atop Ariane 5’s central core – over which was positioned the “upper composite” containing DirecTV-15, the SYLDA 5 dispenser system and the protective payload fairing.

Following final checkout, the Ariane 5 will be readied for rollout to the ELA-3 launch complex, enabling the May 27 liftoff.

As the mission’s upper passenger, DirecTV-15 is to be released first during the flight sequence, followed by the SYLDA 5 dispenser’s separation and deployment of SKY México-1.

DirecTV-15 was produced by Airbus Defence and Space using the Eurostar E3000 platform, and it will provide services in the Ku-, Ka- and R-bands for the more than 20 million customers of U.S.-based DIRECTV – one of the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services.

SKY México-1 is an Orbital ATK, Inc.-built satellite based the GEOStar-2™ platform and carries Ku- and R-band transponders. This spacecraft will be operated for SKY, which is owned by Mexico’s Grupo Televisa S.A.B. and DIRECTV.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2015/1295.asp

Lewis007 · « **Reply #11 on:** 05/20/2015 07:13 am »

VA223 launch poster of Kourou Space center.

Also, check out the VA 223 page of CNES on Flickr, with more than 160 pics.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pkpro/sets/72157652680545019

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #12 on:** 05/21/2015 04:22 am »

Launch kit:

BabaORileyUSA · « **Reply #13 on:** 05/21/2015 02:35 pm »

There are MANY errors in the Arianespace Press Kit... the regular crew must be on holiday. The VA-223 Kit states the GTO inclination will be 6 degrees, but it's actually 4.4 degrees; and the Press Kit transponder counts don't agree with the satellite manufacturer's counts.... http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/Smileys/default/huh.gif

jacqmans · « **Reply #14 on:** 05/22/2015 03:03 pm »

jacqmans · « **Reply #15 on:** 05/22/2015 03:04 pm »

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #16 on:** 05/22/2015 03:31 pm »

Quote from: BabaORileyUSA on 05/21/2015 02:35 pm

There are MANY errors in the Arianespace Press Kit... the regular crew must be on holiday. The VA-223 Kit states the GTO inclination will be 6 degrees, but it's actually 4.4 degrees; and the Press Kit transponder counts don't agree with the satellite manufacturer's counts.... http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/Smileys/default/huh.gif

You sure about the 4.4 deg. inclination part? The combined weight to GTO (9.96 t) is very close to its record, which means I expect a 6 deg. GTO.

BabaORileyUSA · « **Reply #17 on:** 05/22/2015 04:33 pm »

Yes, I am quite certain about the 4.4 degree inclination of the GTO.

Jester · « **Reply #18 on:** 05/22/2015 04:45 pm »

Quote from: BabaORileyUSA on 05/22/2015 04:33 pm

Yes, I am quite certain about the 4.4 degree inclination of the GTO.

I can't check at the moment, however the Astrium (now Airbus) launch kit is normally more accurate, it will be release around 1 day before launch

beidou · « **Reply #19 on:** 05/22/2015 09:57 pm »

ARIANESPACE FLIGHT VA223 / DIRECTV 15 & SKY Mexico 1

THE LAUNCH READINESS REVIEW (RAL) took place in Kourou on Friday May 22, 2015 and authorized count-down operations for the DIRECTV 15 & SKY Mexico 1 launch.
On the fourth launch of the year from the Guiana Space center in French Guiana, and the second with an Ariane 5, Arianespace will orbit 2 High Definition Direct To Home broadcast satellites: DIRECTV 15 for DIRECTV, one of the world’s leading providers of television entertainment services, and SKY Mexico 1(SKYM-1) for SKY Mexico, the leading company in Mexican pay TV market.

It will be launched from the Ariane launch complex N° 3 (ELA3), in Kourou, French Guiana.

THE ARIANE 5 ECA LAUNCHER LIFT-OFF for this flight is scheduled on May 27, 2015 as soon as possible within the following launch window:

UT: Between 9:16pm and 10:40pm on May 27, 2015
KOUROU: Between 6:16pm and 7:40pm on May 27, 2015
PARIS: Between 11:16pm and 12:40am on May 27/28, 2015
MEXICO CITY: Between 4:16pm and 5:40pm on May 27, 2015
NEW YORK: Between 5:16pm and 6:40pm on May 27, 2015
LOS ANGELES: Between 2:16pm and 3:40pm on May 27, 2015

Our website www.arianespace.com has upgraded to high-speed transmission and a full-screen HD format to make it easier for you to follow the company’s activities and to enjoy future launch webcasts. Webcast starts 15 minutes before. You can also watch the video transmission live on your iPad, iPhone or Android 4+ devices, the Arianespace HD App is available for free.