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Ariane 502 Tests Delay Launch Until Late October
Washington DC - October 5, 1997 - Tests and prelaunch simulations of new ascent profiles have forced French space officials to delay the second Ariane 5 test flight until October 28th at the earliest, the commercial launch company Arianespace told SpaceCast last week. French engineers are continuing to flight qualify a new filter for the cryogenic first stage for possible use on the Ariane 502 mission. The test program will lead to final qualification of the system for use in flight on Oct. 17th. Officials will decide after that date if they will fly with the new system on board the rocket, the second Ariane 5 flight vehicle and the next launch following the summer 1996 midair explosion of the inaugural Ariane 5 rocket. The 1996 launch failure was caused by improper flight software being loaded into the launcher's autopilot. The changes to the autopilot and guidance software are among the chief modifications made to the new vehicle to return it to flight status. The simulations are currently being run at the rocket builder Aerospatiale's Les Mureaux facility in France. A copy of the re-launch status report was provided SpaceCast by Arianespace officials in Washington. One additional modification, a new upper skirt for the cryogenic stage, was under verification tests for launch loads at a test range near Casa, in Madrid Spain as SpaceCast went to press. French officials said the test results should be available for review this Friday, clearing the way for the resolution of all last minute vehicle preparations. Under the current plan, the European Space Agency should be able to start the final countdown on Oct. 13th, which would lead to launch from Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana Oct. 28th. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Space
Satellite Launch To Boost DTH In India
Calcutta, India (SPX) Dec 28, 2005The successful launch Thursday of India's heaviest satellite from spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana may have boosted the country's space research efforts to yet another level, but it has also lifted the spirits of at least three Direct-To-Home televisions broadcasters, one of which has been waiting for years to launch its services in India. |
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