Showing posts with label A-548. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A-548. Show all posts
Friday, August 21, 2009
Europe's Ariane 5 Successfully Launches Today
The workhorse of the European Space Agency launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, South America today on a duel satellite delivery mission which will provide strong telecommunications from the central and southern Pacific communities.Lift-off of the Ariane 5 on it's fourth flight of the year occurred on time at 6:09:07 pm EDT today, as the twin solid rocket boosters ignited propelling the rocket toward space.
Combined with a Vulcan single engine, the boosters burned to send the Ariane up to an altitude of nearly 230,000 feet. Due to the close proximity of Kourou with the earth's equator, it takes less time and fuel to get payloads into geostationary orbit.
The first satellite to deploy was Japan's JCSat-12 which occurred on time at 6:35 pm, followed by the Australian DIRECTV and communications payload, Optus D3, at 6:40 pm. Optus will work on station at 156 degrees East longitude, and above the equator.
Earlier this year, Japan and Arianespace signed an agreement whereas Ariane will launch the JCSat-13 in two years.
This was the 190th launch of an Ariane-family rocket launch, and the 32nd consecutive successful mission of the Ariane 5.
Arianespace has three more Ariane 5 flights scheduled for the last four months of 2009, the next coming around September 29th.
ESA to Launch Ariane 5 this Evening
Ariane 5 is moved into launch position on Thursday. (ESA)The countdown began at 6:39 am EDT this morning for the launch of a European Space Agency Ariane 5 rocket this evening from its ocean side launch pad on a multi-satellite delivery mission for Japan and Australia.
Liftoff is targeted for the beginning of a one hour launch window at 6:09 pm EDT, from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, South America. (Read our preLaunch Story)
Tonight's Ariane 5 launch will be the fourth of seven planned for 2009, and will loft two huge communication satellites into geostationary orbit. The JCSat-12 for Japan and the OPTUS D3 for Australia will provide both audio and video communications for their countries central and south Pacific customers.
Arianespace hopes to increase its Ariane launch rate to ten flights next year with the addition of the new Vega launcher.
SpaceLaunchNews.com will provide LIVE launch television of the flight beginning at 5:30 pm EDT tonight. We will have Twitter (@spacelaunchnews) updates to your mobile phone or PDA.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
European Rocket Ariane 5 to Launch Friday
The new workhorse of the European Space Agency is ready for it's fourth mission of the year on Friday, carrying two media satellites into geostationary orbit.
The launch of an Arianespace Ariane 5 heavy-lift rocket is set to depart it's Atlantic Ocean launch pad in Kourou, South America at the opening of a one hour launch window at 6:09 pm EDT.
On board the 193-foot Ariane 5-ECA will be two major communications satellites for Australia and Japan -- Optus D3 and JCSat 12 -- respectively.
The Optus D3 satellite will serve to broadcast television and communications via 32 KU-Band antennas to Australia and New Zealand at an orbital position of 156 degrees East. It is expected to serve it's southern pacific comunity for 15 years.
Japan's JCSat 12 -- which will ride in the top section of the Ariane's payload fairing --carries thirty KU-Band and 12 C-Band transponders and will serve as a back-up comsat.
An Ariane 5 launch is different than most as it leaves the launch pad. At T-0 (6:09 pm), the core main stage Vulcain 2 engine ignites and is brought up to 100% thrust. This huge engine will burn for 650 seconds of the flight. Seven seconds later, the rocket's twin solid rocket boosters are ignited and allowing for lift off from Pad 3.
Two minutes, twenty seconds after core engine ignition, the twin boosters will then separate at an altitude of 229,650 feet. One minute later, as the rocket enters a lesser atmosphere, the white payload cover is then jettisoned as it speeds through 397,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean.
The first to be deployed will be JCSat at T+26m:52s into the ascent profile. The Sylda 5 will then be ejected at T+32m:51s, and this will be followed by the release of the Australian satellite 90 seconds later, thus concluding Ariane flight 548.
This will be the 190th Ariane mission for the European Space Agency, and the 46th Ariane 5 launch since it's madien flight in June 1996.
SpaceLaunchNews.com will provide LIVE launch TV of the flight beginning Friday at 5:45 pm EDT. Also, follow our Twitter feed for LIVE mobile updates,
The launch of an Arianespace Ariane 5 heavy-lift rocket is set to depart it's Atlantic Ocean launch pad in Kourou, South America at the opening of a one hour launch window at 6:09 pm EDT.
On board the 193-foot Ariane 5-ECA will be two major communications satellites for Australia and Japan -- Optus D3 and JCSat 12 -- respectively.
The Optus D3 satellite will serve to broadcast television and communications via 32 KU-Band antennas to Australia and New Zealand at an orbital position of 156 degrees East. It is expected to serve it's southern pacific comunity for 15 years.
Japan's JCSat 12 -- which will ride in the top section of the Ariane's payload fairing --carries thirty KU-Band and 12 C-Band transponders and will serve as a back-up comsat.
An Ariane 5 launch is different than most as it leaves the launch pad. At T-0 (6:09 pm), the core main stage Vulcain 2 engine ignites and is brought up to 100% thrust. This huge engine will burn for 650 seconds of the flight. Seven seconds later, the rocket's twin solid rocket boosters are ignited and allowing for lift off from Pad 3.
Two minutes, twenty seconds after core engine ignition, the twin boosters will then separate at an altitude of 229,650 feet. One minute later, as the rocket enters a lesser atmosphere, the white payload cover is then jettisoned as it speeds through 397,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean.
The first to be deployed will be JCSat at T+26m:52s into the ascent profile. The Sylda 5 will then be ejected at T+32m:51s, and this will be followed by the release of the Australian satellite 90 seconds later, thus concluding Ariane flight 548.
This will be the 190th Ariane mission for the European Space Agency, and the 46th Ariane 5 launch since it's madien flight in June 1996.
SpaceLaunchNews.com will provide LIVE launch TV of the flight beginning Friday at 5:45 pm EDT. Also, follow our Twitter feed for LIVE mobile updates,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
