Wed, Aug 28, 2013
Will Boost EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1, GSAT-7 Into Orbit
The finishing touches are being completed for Arianespace’s heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission from French Guiana this Thursday, with the logos of its EUTELSAT 25B/Es’hail 1 and GSAT-7 passengers now affixed to the launcher’s payload fairing. Logo placement on the fairing – which protects Ariane 5’s satellites during climb-out through the atmosphere’s dense layers – occurred in the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building.
The mission’s next steps will be its launch readiness review – set for Wednesday – which clears the way for Ariane 5’s rollout to the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone on Wednesday, followed by liftoff on August 29 during a 50-minute launch window that opens at 5:30 p.m., local time in French Guiana.
Positioning of the logos on Ariane 5’s payload fairing represent the integration of its satellite passengers for this fourth Arianespace heavy-lift flight of 2013. Riding in the upper position is EUTELSAT 25B/Es’hail 1, which will be deployed first during the 34-minute-long mission.
The spacecraft will serve the relay requirements of European telecommunications operator Eutelsat Communications and Qatar’s Es’hailSat Satellite Company, delivering television broadcasting, telecommunications and government services in the Ku-band range. Ka-band capability also provided by EUTELSAT 25B/Es’hail 1 will open business opportunities for both operators. Space Systems/Loral (SSL) built the high-power, multi-mission relay platform, which is to be located at 25.5 deg. East.
Ariane 5’s second passenger is GSAT-7, developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to provide the country with UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band relay capacity. The satellite is adapted from India’s I-2K spacecraft bus and will be operated from an orbital location of 74 deg. East.
Arianespace’s upcoming mission is designated Ariane Flight VA215 in the company’s launcher family numbering system, signifying the 215th flight of an Ariane-series vehicle from the Spaceport.
(Image provided by Arianespace)
More News
Inversion to Launch Reentry Vehicle Demonstrator Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 This fall, the aerospace startup Inversion is set to launch its Ray reentry demonstrator capsule aboard Spac>[...]
"We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future. The agreement with magniX underscores our commitmen>[...]
"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]
Aero Linx: OX5 Aviation Pioneers Each year a national reunion of OX5 Aviation Pioneers is hosted by one of the Wings in the organization. The reunions attract much attention as man>[...]
"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]