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Ariane 5 Launches Over Nine Tonne To GEO Transfer Orbit
Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Nov 15, 2007 Ariane 5 achieved another heavy-lift record tonight (November 14), successfully placing a U.K. military relay platform and Brazil's new multi-mission telecommunications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit. The mission's total payload delivery weight was 9,535 kg., which included 8,735 kg. For the two satellites, along with the associated installation/interface hardware and Ariane's SYLDA 5 dual payload dispenser system. Ariane 5 lifted off right on schedule at 7:06 p.m. local time in French Guiana, and climbed through a deck of low clouds over the Spaceport. Tracking cameras followed the trajectory as the launcher came back into view, clearly showing the jettisoning of Ariane 5's two solid rocket boosters at an altitude of 65.5 km. Skynet 5B was deployed by the launcher approximately 27 minutes into the mission, and Star One C1 was released about six minutes later. This flight was another demonstration of Arianespace's flexibility to accommodate a variety of satellites on its family of launchers, as well as to support the mission needs of key customers. It also continued the company's launch rate acceleration, marking the fifth Ariane 5 dual-satellite success of 2007 - and clearing the way for a record sixth flight in December. "Since the beginning of 2007, 12 large commercial communications satellites have been launched [worldwide], and we launched 10 of them - 83 percent of the total, which also is a record," Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said. Le Gall provided details on Aranespace's two remaining missions in 2007: a December 14 Soyuz launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome for its Starsem affiliate, which will carry the Radarsat 2 satellite; followed several days later by the year-ending Ariane 5 flight with its Rascom 1 and Horizons-2 payloads. The December Ariane 5 mission will mark the first time six launches of this workhorse vehicle have been performed in one year. Arianespace is accelerating the pace to accommodate its growing order book, with a stabilized rate of eight Ariane 5 launches annually to be reached by 2009. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Ariane Space Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com
Ariane 5 rocket puts British, Brazilian satellites into orbit
Kourou, French Guiana (AFP) Nov 14, 2007An Ariane 5 rocket blasted off here on Friday and put into orbit British and Brazilian telecommunications satellites, Arianespace said. |
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