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19.03.2016
Ariane 5 arrives at the Spaceport for a June launch with Echostar 18 and BRIsat
The shipping container with Ariane 5’s “upper composite” – composed of the ESC-A cryogenic upper stage and vehicle equipment bay – is unloaded from the MN Colibri transport ship docked at Pariacabo Port in French Guiana. This component is for an Arianespace Ariane 5 mission in early June with the Echostar 18 and BRIsat satellites.
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Components for another of Arianespace’s up-to-eight planned Ariane 5 launches in 2016 are now at the Spaceport in French Guiana, following their delivery from Europe this week.
Arriving aboard the MN Colibri – which is one of two sea-going roll-on/roll-off transport ships that support Arianespace’s launcher supply chain – the elements included Ariane 5’s EPC cryogenic main stage and the “upper composite” composed of the ESC-A cryogenic upper stage and vehicle equipment bay.
Once unloaded from the MN Colibri at Pariacabo Port adjacent to the city of Kourou, the components were transferred by road to the nearby Spaceport.
A Dual-Payload Mission For Arianespace In June
This Ariane 5 is planned for liftoff from the Spaceport in early June with two telecommunications relay passengers: Echostar 18 and BRIsat.
Echostar 18 will join the spacecraft fleet of U.S.-based EchoStar Satellite Services, which provides video distribution, data communications and backhaul services to meet the needs of media and broadcast organizations, direct-to-home providers, enterprise customers and government service providers.
BRIsat will serve Indonesia’s PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. – also known as BRI – to provide a dedicated platform for banking connection services across the Indonesian archipelago. Its launch will make BRI one of the world’s first banks to orbit a communications satellite.
The 230th Mission For Europe’s Ariane Launcher Family
Both BRIsat and Echostar 18 are relay platforms built by SSL, a leading provider of geostationary commercial satellites. To date, more than 50 SSL-built spacecraft have been launched by Arianespace.
Ariane 5’s early June mission with BRIsat and Echostar 18 is designated Flight VA230, signifying the 230th liftoff of an Ariane vehicle since the family of European launchers entered service in 1979.
So far in 2016, Arianespace has used the heavy-lift Ariane 5 for two on-target missions: Flight VA229, performed March 9 to orbit the EUTELSAT 65 West A satellite for Eutelsat Communications; and Flight VA228 – conducted on January 27 – which lofted Intelsat 29e as the first high-throughput EpicNG-series spacecraft for international operator Intelsat.
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Protected by its shipping container, Ariane 5’s cryogenic main stage enters the Spaceport in a convoy that began at Pariacabo Port. The cryogenic stage will be utilized on a June heavy-lift flight to orbit the Echostar 18 and BRIsat satellites from French Guiana.
Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 25.03.2016
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Arianespace’s third Ariane 5 for launch in 2016 is assembled at the Spaceport
Ariane 5’s cryogenic main stage for Flight VA230 is moved into position over the mobile launch table inside the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building (photo at left), which was followed by rollout of the two solid propellant boosters (photos, right).
The launcher for Arianespace’s third Ariane 5 mission of 2016 has begun its build-up at the Spaceport in French Guiana, initiating preparations for an early June liftoff with the Echostar 18 and BRIsat telecommunications satellites.
During activity in the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building, the vehicle’s cryogenic main stage was positioned over one of two operational launch tables for Ariane 5, followed by the integration of its two solid propellant boosters.
The next step will be installation of Ariane 5’s “upper composite,” composed of the ESC-A cryogenic upper stage and vehicle equipment bay.
When this integration – performed under responsibility of industrial prime contractor Airbus Safran Launchers – is completed, the Ariane 5 will be ready for its transfer to the Final Assembly Building, where Arianespace oversees the payload integration, final checkout and the launch operations.
The Upcoming Flight Will Be Ariane’s 230th Mission
Arianespace’s June mission is designated Flight VA230 in the company’s launcher family numbering system, representing the 230th liftoff of an Ariane vehicle since the family of European launchers entered service in 1979. It will deliver the two passengers into geostationary transfer orbit.
Both the Echostar 18 and BRIsat satellites to be lofted by Flight VA230 are relay platforms built by SSL, which is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of geostationary commercial satellites. More than 50 SSL-built spacecraft have been launched by Arianespace to date.
Echostar 18 will be operated U.S.-based EchoStar Satellite Services, a provider of video distribution, data communications and backhaul services for media and broadcast organizations, direct-to-home providers, enterprise customers and government service providers.
BRIsat is to serve Indonesia’s PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. – also known as BRI – and the launch will make it one of the world’s first banks with a communications satellite. BRIsat has been designed to operate as a dedicated platform for banking connection services across the Indonesian archipelago.
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Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 7.04.2016
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Anheben der Oberstufe von Ariane-5 - VA230
Quelle: CNES
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Update: 6.05.2016
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EchoStar 18 begins its preparation for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission
The EchoStar 18 satellite for Arianespace’s next dual-passenger Ariane 5 mission is undergoing its pre-launch checkout at the Spaceport for a June liftoff from French Guiana.
As part of this activity, the spacecraft underwent its fit-check – an initial milestone validating the satellite’s compatibility with the adapter that is to serve as the payload interface with Ariane 5.
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EchoStar 18 undergoes a fit-check with the interface adapter used for integration on Arianespace’s Ariane 5 launcher.
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EchoStar 18 will join U.S.-based EchoStar Satellite Services’ spacecraft fleet, which provides video distribution, data communications and backhaul services for media and broadcast organizations, direct-to-home providers, enterprise customers and government service providers.
Based on the 1300 satellite bus produced by SSL, EchoStar 18 is one of two passengers built by the company that will be deployed into geostationary transfer orbit by the upcoming heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission – designated Flight VA230 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system. It will be joined by BRIsat, a dedicated relay platform for Indonesia’s PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. to deliver banking connection services across the Indonesian archipelago.
Arianespace’s Flight VA230 is one of up to 12 missions planned during 2016 with the company’s launcher family of the heavy-lift Ariane 5, the medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega. So far this year, Arianespace has performed three launches: Ariane 5 missions on January 27 (with Intelsat 29e) and March 9 (orbiting EUTELSAT 65 West A), as well as a Soyuz flight on April 25 that lofted a five-satellite payload consisting of Sentinel-1B, Microscope and three Fly Your Satellite! CubeSats.
Flight VA230 in June will be preceded by Arianespace’s May 24 launch of a Soyuz, which will carry two more satellites for Europe’s Galileo satellite-based navigation and positioning system.
Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 12.05.2016
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Welcome to French Guiana! BRIsat is delivered for its Arianespace Ariane 5 launch
Protected by its environmentally-controlled shipping container, BRIsat is unloaded from the chartered An-124 jetliner at Félix Eboué Airport after its arrival this morning.
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Satellite preparations for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission are now in full swing with today’s arrival in French Guiana of its second passenger: BRIsat for Indonesia’s PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk.
BRIsat was delivered by a chartered Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner, which touched down at Félix Eboué Airport near the French Guiana capital city of Cayenne just before sunrise.
The satellite’s environmentally-controlled shipping container was then unloaded and prepared for transfer by road to the Spaceport – located approximately 60 km. to the northwest – where it will undergo processing in the S5 payload preparation facility.
Once it begins operations in orbit, BRIsat will serve as a dedicated relay platform for banking connection services across the Indonesian archipelago.
An Arianespace Mission With Two SSL-Built Satellites
BRIsat is one of two SSL-built (Space Systems Loral) satellites to be lofted on the next Ariane 5 mission, designated Flight VA230 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system and scheduled for liftoff in June. It will be accompanied on the heavy-lift launcher by EchoStar 18, which arrived at the Spaceport last month and has now completed its fueling in the S5 payload preparation facility.
EchoStar 18 will join the fleet of U.S.-based EchoStar Satellite Services, which delivers video distribution, data communications and backhaul services for media and broadcast organizations, direct-to-home providers, enterprise customers and government service providers.
The Ariane 5 mission with BRIsat and EchoStar 18 will deliver its passengers to geostationary transfer orbit, and is one of up to 12 missions planned during 2016 with the company’s launcher family composed of the heavy-lift Ariane 5, along with the medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega.
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EchoStar 18 is fueled at the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility.
Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 20.05.2016
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Pre-launch processing is underway with Indonesia’s BRIsat for the next Arianespace heavy-lift flight
The second of two Space Systems Loral-built (SSL) payloads on Arianespace’s upcoming Ariane 5 mission is well into its pre-launch processing at the Spaceport as Indonesia’s BRIsat is readied for a June liftoff from French Guiana.
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Indonesia’s BRIsat is positioned for its fit-check validation with the interface adapter used for integration on Ariane 5.
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Preparations have included the fit-check, which is a regular milestone for Arianespace spacecraft passengers. This step validated BRIsat’s electrical and mechanical compatibility with the adapter that will serve as the interface when integrated with Ariane 5.
BRIsat will be riding as the lower passenger during Arianespace’s dual-payload mission, which will be the third Ariane 5 flight in 2016.
Once in orbit, BRIsat will become one of the world’s first communications satellites dedicated to a financial institution, and is configured to provide both C-band and Ku-band coverage of Indonesia and South East Asia.
BRIsat To Support Banking Communications Services
The spacecraft will serve PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (BRI), the country’s oldest and most profitable bank, providing enhanced secure banking communications for more than 10,600 operational branches, some 237,000 electronic channel outlets and nearly 53 million customers across the Indonesian archipelago.
BRIsat is based on the SSL 1300 satellite platform, designed to deliver service for 15 years or longer. In addition to producing the satellite, SSL is providing BRI with a complete ground system solution, which includes two satellite control facilities, as well as training and launch support services.
Riding in the upper payload position on Arianespace’s June Ariane 5 mission to geostationary transfer orbit is EchoStar 18, which is to join the fleet of EchoStar Satellite Services. This U.S.-based operator provides video distribution, data communications and backhaul services for media and broadcast organizations, direct-to-home providers, enterprise customers and government service providers.
EchoStar 18 also utilizes the SSL 1300 satellite bus as its platform.
The Ariane 5 mission with BRIsat and Echostar 18 will be the fifth of up to 12 Arianespace flights planned during 2016 with the company’s launch vehicle family composed of the heavy-lift Ariane 5, the medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega.
Preceding the June liftoff with BRIsat and EchoStar 18 will be Soyuz Flight VS15, which is to orbit a pair of FOC (Full Operational Capability) satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation system on May 24.
Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 30.05.2016
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The BRIsat banking communications satellite is fueled for Arianespace’s June 8 launch with Ariane 5
A milestone payload on Arianespace’s upcoming Ariane 5 mission has been fueled at the Spaceport in French Guiana, readying the Indonesian BRIsat spacecraft for integration with its heavy-lift launcher.
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BRIsat is “topped off” in the Spaceport’s S5B preparation hall, readying the SSL-built satellite for its upcoming integration on Ariane 5.
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BRIsat will be operated by PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (BRI), which is one of the world’s first banks to purchase its own satellite. Once in orbit, BRIsat will provide enhanced secure banking communications for more than 10,600 operational branches, as well as to some 237,000 electronic channel outlets and nearly 53 million customers across the Indonesian archipelago.
The spacecraft was produced by Space Systems Loral (SSL) based on the company’s SSL 1300 satellite platform.
BRIsat will be orbited along with Arianespace’s co-passenger on the June 8 mission: EchoStar 18, which also was built by SSL and will be utilized by DISH Network L.L.C. This direct broadcast spacecraft is designed to provide exceptional sparing flexibility for the DISH fleet, and will augment its existing satellite resources while assuring the highest level of ongoing service to DISH customers.
Arianespace’s Ariane 5 launch to deploy BRIsat and EchoStar 18 into geostationary transfer orbit is designated Flight VA230 in the company’s numbering system, signifying the 230th mission with an Ariane-series vehicle. It will be Arianespace’s fifth liftoff in 2016, with the overall goal of performing up to 12 flights this year using the heavy-lift Ariane 5, medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega launchers.
Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 2.06.2016
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EchoStar XVIII and BRIsat are installed on Arianespace’s Ariane 5
The payload integration process was completed today in French Guiana for Arianespace’s upcoming dual-passenger Ariane 5 Flight VA230 on June 8.
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The lower passenger for Flight VA230 – BRIsat – is integrated with Ariane 5’s central core inside the Spaceport’s Ariane 5 Final Assembly Building (BAF).
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During activity this week inside the Spaceport’s Ariane 5 Final Assembly Building (BAF), both satellite passengers – EchoStar XVIII and BRIsat – have been installed on the heavy-lift vehicle, completing launcher build-up for Flight VA230.
These preparations kicked off with installation of the mission’s lower passenger – BRIsat – atop the launcher’s central core. Subsequently, the upper component – consisting of EchoStar XVIII, the SYLDA dispenser system and Ariane 5’s protective payload fairing – was placed over BRIsat. This clears the way for final checkout before Ariane 5’s liftoff next week, including the launch readiness review and the vehicle’s rollout to the ELA-3 launch zone.
Ariane 5 Complete For Flight VA230
EchoStar XVIII is the mission’s upper passenger, and it is to be orbited for operator DISH Network L.L.C. The spacecraft features a high-power multi-spot beam in the Ku-band to assure the highest levels of ongoing service to DISH customers in the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Cuba.
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Flight VA230’s upper component – composed of EchoStar XVIII, the SYLDA dispenser system and Ariane 5’s protective payload fairing – is lowered over BRIsat to complete launcher build-up for Arianespace’s third heavy-lift mission of 2016.
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Joining EchoStar XVIII on Arianespace’s next mission is BRIsat – a milestone payload for P.T. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (BRI).
As the world’s first dedicated banking communications satellite, BRIsat will provide enhanced secure banking communications for more than 10,600 operational branches, as well as to some 237,000 electronic channel outlets and nearly 53 million customers across the Indonesian archipelago.
Both the BRIsat and EchoStar XVIII relay platforms were built by U.S.-based SSL (Space Systems Loral).
Next week’s Ariane 5 Flight VA230 will be Arianespace’s third heavy-lift launch of 2016, following previous successes in January (VA228) and March (VA229). Arianespace is maintaining its busy operational pace this year – with its launch manifest including a record of up to eight Ariane 5 flights, along with its two successful medium-lift Soyuz missions to date (VS14 in April and VS15 in May) and two launches planned with the lightweight Vega.
Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 7.06.2016
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ARIANESPACE FLIGHT VA230
ECHOSTAR XVIII and BRIsat: LAUNCH DELAYED
During the preparations for the roll-out of the Ariane 5 ECA launcher for Flight VA230, an anomaly occurred on a fluid connector between the cryogenic upper stage and the launch table.
As a result, Arianespace has decided to postpone the Flight VA230 launch, initially scheduled for June 8, 2016, in order to replace this component and perform the subsequent verifications.
The launch vehicle and its ECHOSTAR XVIII and BRIsat satellite payloads are being maintained in fully safe conditions and in stand-by mode.
The new targeted launch date will be announced very soon.
Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 8.06.2016
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FLIGHT VA230 – EchoStar XVIII AND BRIsat
NEW TARGETED DATE FOR LAUNCH: JUNE 16, 2016
Replacement operations for the fluid connector between the cryogenic upper stage and launch table have begun, along with associated checks. The new targeted launch date is Thursday, June 16, 2016, as soon as possible within the following window:
- 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., local time in French Guiana,
- 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., in Washington, D.C,
- 20:30 to 21:15, UTC,
- 22:30 to 23:15, in Paris, France.
The Ariane 5 launch vehicle and its EchoStar XVIII and BRIsat satellite payloads are being maintained in fully safe conditions and in stand-by mode.
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Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 15.06.2016
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Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 16.06.2016
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Quelle: arianespace
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Ariane 5 startet mit Rekord-Last ins All
Bild links: Installation des Satelliten BRIsat auf der Ariane 5. Bild in der Mitte: Die Nutzlastverkleidung mit dem darin befindlichen EchoStar 18 wird über den Satelliten BRIsat gestülpt. Bild rechts: Die Ariane 5-Hauptstufe im Integrationsgebäude. Dort werden die Hauptstufe, die Oberstufe mit den Satelliten und die Booster der Rakete zusammengefügt und auf dem mobilen Starttisch montiert. Der Starttisch wird dann zusammen mit der Ariane 5 in die Startzone gefahren.
+++ Update: Ariane-Start um 24 Stunden verschoben. +++
Beim Transfer des Trägers in die Startzone trat eine Anomalie an einer der Verbindungsleitungen zwischen Träger und Starttisch auf. Daher hat Arianespace entschieden, den Start um 24 Stunden zu verschieben. Der Träger und die Satelliten befinden sich in einem stabilen Stand-by-Zustand.
Am Donnerstag, den 16. Juni 2016, um 22:30 Uhr ist es mal wieder soweit: Eine Ariane 5-Trägerrakete wird zwei Satelliten ins Weltall bringen. Das Besondere an diesem Start: Noch nie hat eine Ariane 5 so eine große Last in den geostationären Transferorbit (GTO) transportieren müssen. Die beiden Satelliten und die für Doppelstarts nötigen Strukturen wiegen zusammen 10,731 Tonnen. Das ist absoluter Rekord für eine Ariane 5. Die bisherige Bestmarke beträgt 10,317 Tonnen in den GTO und wurde am 7. Februar 2013 aufgestellt, als eine Ariane 5 die Satelliten Amazonas 3 und Azerspace/Africasat-1a transportierte.
Satelliten fertig betankt und abflugbereit
Der größere der beiden Satelliten trägt den Namen Echostar XVIII. Er wiegt 6300 Kilogramm und wird Fernsehsignale für den nordamerikanischen Kontinent bereitstellen. Der kleinere Co-Pilot heißt BRIsat und wiegt 3540 Kilogramm. Er wird von einer indonesischen Bank betrieben werden und soll Datenverbindungen zu entlegenen Bankautomaten auf indonesischen Inseln bereitstellen.
Beide Satelliten sind bereits betankt und befinden sich abflugbereit an der Spitze der Ariane 5 in Französisch-Guayana. Der Start wird voraussichtlich um 22:30 Uhr deutscher Zeit erfolgen und kann live auf www.arianespace.com verfolgt werden.
Über 40 Prozent der Satellitenmasse macht Treibstoff aus. Die Satelliten benötigen ihn, um nach dem Absetzen im All ihren finalen Zielorbit zu erreichen. Zudem kann es in ihrer über 15-jährigen Betriebsphase nötig sein, Bahnkorrekturen vorzunehmen. Mit dem restlichen Treibstoff werden sie am Ende ihrer Lebenszeit in einen höheren Orbit gebracht, wo sie außer Betrieb genommen werden und dort verbleiben.
Start wurde um eine Woche verschoben
Ursprünglich sollte die Ariane 5-Mission bereits letzte Woche Mittwoch, am 8.6.2016, starten. Bei den Routinechecks vor dem Herausrollen aus dem Integrationsgebäude wurde jedoch eine fehlerhafte Schlauchverbindung zwischen der Oberstufe und dem mobilen Starttisch entdeckt, die ersetzt werden musste. Die Schlauchverbindungen an der Oberstufe werden benötigt, um die Oberstufe vor dem Start mit flüssigem Sauerstoff beziehungsweise flüssigem Wasserstoff zu betanken.
20-jähriges Dienstjubiläum der Ariane 5 und ein Blick in die Zukunft
Die Ariane 5-Trägerfamilie ist seit nunmehr 20 Jahren im Dienst. Die Leistung der ersten Ariane 5-Version betrug damals gerade mal 6,3 Tonnen. Man kann also durchaus von einer bemerkenswerten Leistungssteigerung sprechen. Mit einer Starterfolgsquote von über 98 Prozent zählt die Ariane 5 zu den zuverlässigsten Trägerraketen überhaupt.
Ab dem Jahr 2020 wird sich die Ariane 5 dann langsam in den wohlverdienten Ruhestand verabschieden. Denn für dieses Jahr ist der Erstflug der neuen Ariane 6 geplant. Die beiden Träger werden noch bis 2023 gemeinsam im Dienste Europas stehen. Danach wird die Ariane 5 vollständig von der Ariane 6 abgelöst werden.
Quelle: DLR
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Update: 17.06.2016 / 7.45 MESZ
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Ariane 5 is in the launch zone for heavy-lift Arianespace mission
Arianespace has delivered another Ariane 5 to the launch zone at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, positioning this workhorse vehicle for its June 17 liftoff with a dual-satellite payload of EchoStar XVIII and BRIsat.
Riding atop a mobile launch table, Ariane 5 was transferred to the ELA-3 launch zone from the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building – where its two passengers had been integrated as part of pre-flight preparations.
With the rollout completed, the final countdown will begin for a Friday liftoff at the start of a 1-hour, 10-minute launch window that opens at 5:30 p.m. local time in French Guiana.
For this 86th flight of an Ariane 5 to date, the payload lift performance to geostationary transfer orbit is approximately 10,730 kg. – which includes a combined total of some 9,840 kg. for EchoStar XVIII and BRIsat, plus the launch vehicle’s dual-passenger dispenser system and satellite integration hardware.
EchoStar XVIII – which was produced by SSL (Space Systems Loral) for DISH Network L.L.C. – is riding in the upper position of Ariane 5’s payload arrangement, to be released first in the flight sequence at 29 minutes following liftoff.
BRIsat also was built by SSL and will be deployed from Ariane 5’s lower passenger position 42 minutes into the flight – completing the mission. Once in orbit, it is to be operated by PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (BRI).
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Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 17.30 MESZ
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Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 22.20 MESZ - LIVE LAUNCH VA-230
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...Update: 23.11 MESZ
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Update: 18.06.2016 / 8.15 MESZ
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Update 20.55 MESZ
...22.12 MESZ
...22.19 MESZ
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...22.48 MESZ
...23.33 MESZ
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Quelle: arianespace
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Update: 19.06.2016
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ARIANESPACE FLIGHT VA230: 72ND SUCCESSFUL ARIANE 5 LAUNCH IN A ROW, AND A RECORD-SETTING PAYLOAD FOR ARIANE 5 ECA
Arianespace has successfully launched two satellites for operators in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region: EchoStar XVIII for the operator DISH Network L.L.C and BRIsat for the Indonesian bank PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk.
The fifth launch of the year for Arianespace, and the third in 2016 using an Ariane 5, took place on Wednesday, June 18 at 18:38 pm local time from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. This mission was the heavy-lift launcher’s 72nd consecutive success. It set a payload lift record to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) for the Ariane 5 ECA by lofting a total mass of 10,730 kg.
It was also the 230th launch of an Ariane rocket overall, and marked two other milestones, as Arianespace launched two SSL-built (Space Systems Loral) satellites for the first time on a single mission, and also orbited a spacecraft wholly dedicated to a financial institution.
Quelle: arianespace
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