The Spaceport’s ability to conduct two parallel Ariane 5 launch campaigns is being demonstrated again as a new heavy-lift launcher takes shape for an Arianespace liftoff from French Guiana in November, which will carry the Arabsat-6B and GSAT-15 telecommunications satellites. During activity in the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building, the Ariane 5 for this upcoming mission … Czytaj dalej
A payload’s arrival in French Guiana for an upcoming Spaceport launch always is a notable event, and the recent delivery of the Star One C4 satellite for Ariane 5’s flight this July has great significance – as it will mark SSL’s (Space Systems Loral) 50th mission with Arianespace. Star One C4 was designed and built … Czytaj dalej
The fifth Vega launcher continues its integration process in French Guiana for a mission this summer to orbit Europe’s Sentinel-2A Earth observation satellite. During activity at the Spaceport’s ZLV launch site, Vega’s Zefiro 23 solid propellant second stage has now been integrated atop the vehicle’s P80 first stage, which also uses solid propellant. This vertical … Czytaj dalej
The third Vega has completed its build-up at the Spaceport in French Guiana, allowing final checkout to begin ahead of this lightweight launcher’s April 28 mission with the DZZ-HR Earth observation satellite. Vega’s assembly concluded this week with integration of the “upper composite,” consisting of DZZ-HR and its protective payload fairing. Installation took place at … Czytaj dalej
The 1,815th flight of a Soyuz launch vehicle was performed on Monday, 24 March 2014 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia at 02:54 Moscow time (23:54 Paris time on Sunday, 23 March). Arianespace and its Russian partners report that the governmental spacecraft was accurately placed on the target orbit. This was the second Soyuz family … Czytaj dalej
Arianespace’s “supply pipeline” is supporting the company’s high-activity launch pace planned for 2014, with launcher elements arriving this week in French Guiana for its third flight of the lightweight Vega and another heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission. The Ariane 5 main cryogenic stage for Arianespace’s Flight VA218 emerges from the roll-on/roll-off interior cargo bay. These components … Czytaj dalej