Ariane 5 rocket puts US, Australian satellites into orbit Kourou, French Guiana (AFP) Oct 5, 2007 An Ariane 5 rocket blasted off here on Friday and put into orbit an Australian and US television satellites, Arianespace said. The rocket, the 34rd launch of an Ariane 5 and the fourth this year, lifted off at 2202 GMT and successfully placed both satellites into geostationary transfer orbit, the company said. Intelsat 11, built by Orbital Sciences Corp., will provide television and data transmission services over Latin America. Optus D2, also built by Orbital Sciences Corp., will provide direct television, Internet, telephone and data services over Australia and New Zealand. The mission also allowed Arianespace to test the EPS Storable Propellant upper stage section, which will also be used in the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), a supply ship to be launched by the Ariane 5 for the first time next year that is Europe's contribution to the International Space Station. "It was decided to repeat the ignition of EPS stage as we will have to do that for the ATV," Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall told AFP. Complete data to evaluate whether the test was successful will only be available in about two weeks, he added. Related Links Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com
Ariane 5 Cleared For Intelsat 11 And Optus D2 Mission Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Oct 04, 2007 Ariane 5 mission is cleared for an October 5 liftoff with Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 Arianespace's fourth mission of 2007 is set for Friday, October 5, with the green light given today (October 3) after the launch readiness review at Europe's Spaceport. This review, which is held before every Ariane flight, verifies the readiness of the Ariane 5 vehicle, its two payloads, the launch infrastructure at the Spaceport in French Guiana, and the downrange network of tracking stations. |
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