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11.01.2016
2016 Launcher Deliveries Begin To French Guiana In Support Of Arianespace’s Busy Mission Manifest
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MN Colibri arrives off the French Guiana coast at the conclusion of its trans-Atlantic crossing with Ariane 5 launcher elements for Flight VA229.
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The first 2016 delivery of an Ariane 5 to French Guiana for Arianespace’s busy mission manifest this year has occurred, with elements of the heavy-lift vehicle arriving for an early March launch of Eutelsat’s Eutelsat 65 West relay satellite.
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After being unloaded from the MN Colibri sea-going ship at Pariacabo Port, Ariane 5’s core cryogenic stage for Flight VA229 is readied for the transfer by road to the nearby Spaceport.
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Completing a trans-Atlantic sea voyage from Europe, the Ariane 5’s stages arrived aboard the MN Colibri – one of two roll-on/roll-off transport ships that support Arianespace’s supply chain. The MN Colibri docked on Tuesday at Pariacabo Port adjacent to the city of Kourou, followed by the components’ unloading and transfer by road to the nearby Spaceport yesterday.
Arianespace’s mission with Eutelsat 65 West is one of up to eight Ariane 5 liftoffs planned for 2016 – which would mark a new annual record for this workhorse launcher. The March launch is designated Flight VA229 in Arianespace’s numbering system, signifying the 229th mission with an Ariane vehicle since the family of European rockets entered operation in 1979.
Flight VA229 will follow Arianespace’s year-opening Ariane 5 mission – Flight VA228 – scheduled for January 27 to loft Intelsat’s Intelsat 29e. Ariane 5s are supplied by prime contractor Airbus Safran Launchers, with Arianespace taking responsibility for the payload integration and launch operations at the Spaceport.
Overall, Arianespace is targeting up to 11 flights in 2016: as many as eight with Ariane 5, along with two liftoffs of the lightweight Vega, and one utilizing the medium-lift Soyuz.
Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 27.01.2016
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Arianespace’s Second Ariane 5 For Launch This Year Begins Its Assembly At The Spaceport
Ariane 5’s core cryogenic stage for Flight VA229 is moved into position over the mobile launch table during activity in the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building.
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The second Ariane 5 for launch by Arianespace in 2016 has begun taking shape at French Guiana, as build-up of the heavy-lift vehicle is now underway in the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building.
Following a well-established assembly flow, the process began with this week’s positioning of the launcher’s central core cryogenic stage over one of two mobile launch tables utilized for Ariane 5. Next will be integration of the two large solid propellant boosters – which are installed directly on the launch table, followed by placement of the combined vehicle equipment bay and upper stage unit atop the core stage.
This activity is performed under the direction of industrial prime contractor Airbus Safran Launchers, and will lead to Ariane 5’s subsequent transfer to the Final Assembly Building, where Arianespace takes responsibility for payload integration, final checkout, and the launch operations.
Designated VA229 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system, the upcoming mission is planned in early March with the EUTELSAT 65 West A relay satellite for Eutelsat. EUTELSAT 65 West A is to offer coverage for Latin America in C, Ku and Ka bands – providing video distribution and direct-to-home broadcasting, along with flexible high throughput for broadband access.
After deployment by Ariane 5 into geostationary transfer orbit, the Space Systems Loral-built (SSL) satellite will operate at position of 65 degrees West.
Arianespace is planning up to eight Ariane 5 missions in 2016 – which would be a new operational record for the heavy-lift launcher. Also on the company’s manifest this year are one flight with its medium-lift Soyuz and two using the lightweight Vega launcher. The year-opening Ariane 5 flight is set for next week, with Intelsat’s Intelsat 29e telecommunications satellite to be lofted from the Spaceport on January 27.
Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 28.01.2016
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Frams von Ariane-5 / VA-228 Start:
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Quelle: arianespace
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