 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Ariane 5 Getting Ready To Launch Helios 2B Reconn Satellite
Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Dec 03, 2009 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 generale 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. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Arianespace Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com
First Two Soyuz Launchers Arrive In French GuianaKourou, French Guiana (SPX) Nov 26, 2009 Arianespace has marked a historic milestone with the arrival of its first two Soyuz launchers in French Guiana, which will be used to inaugurate service with this medium-lift workhorse vehicle next year from the Spaceport. The Soyuz 2-1a launchers were carried aboard the MN Colibri roll-on/roll-off transport ship, which docked on schedule yesterday morning at Pariacabo port near Kourou ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook