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Ariane To Launch JCSAT-12 And Optus D3 Friday
Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Aug 20, 2009 Arianespace's fourth heavy-lift flight of 2009 has been authorized for its August 21 liftoff following the launch readiness review (August 19) at the Spaceport in French Guiana. The review is performed prior to each Ariane 5 mission, ensuring that the launch vehicle and its payload are flight-ready, along with the Spaceport's infrastructure and the network of downrange tracking stations. This go-ahead clears the way for Arianespace's remaining preparation milestones, beginning with the rollout of Ariane 5 tomorrow from its Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone. On launch day Friday, the countdown will start 11 hrs. 30 min. before liftoff, followed by the fueling of Ariane 5's cryogenic main and upper stages, as well as a weather check and initiation of the final synchronized sequence. The Ariane 5 is to lift off at the start of a one-hour launch window, which opens at 7:09 p.m. local time in French Guiana. Integrated on the Ariane 5 is a pair of U.S.-built commercial telecommunications satellites for two key Arianespace customers in the Asia-Pacific region. They will be injected into geostationary transfer orbits during a flight lasting just over 34 minutes. Riding in the upper position on Ariane 5's dual-payload "stack" is JCSAT-12, which is to be operated by Japan's SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. Weighing approximately 4,000 kg. at liftoff, the spacecraft was produced by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems and carries 30 Ku-band transponders plus 12 C-band transponders. The high-power JCSAT-12 will serve as the successor to JCSAT-R - which currently is in geostationary orbit as a backup relay platform for SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. Located in the lower slot of Ariane 5's payload stack is Optus D3, a platform manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation for the Australian Optus telecommunications provider. This 2,500-kg. spacecraft carries 32 Ku-band transponders for fixed communications and direct television broadcasting services to Australia and New Zealand. Arianespace is targeting a total of seven Ariane 5 flights in 2009, making it the busiest year with this workhorse launch vehicle since its commercial introduction in 1999. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Arianespace Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com
Ariane 5 Ready For This Week's LaunchKourou, French Guiana (SPX) Aug 18, 2009 Arianespace has completed the payload integration on its fourth Ariane 5 to be launched in 2009, clearing the way for this vehicle's liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana on Friday, August 21. The heavy-lift Ariane 5 has been fitted with its dual payload "stack" of the JCSAT-12 and Optus D3 telecommunications satellites, and is being readied for a rollout to the Spaceport's ELA-3 ... read more |
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