ASTRA 1N & BSAT-3c = Ariane 5 ECA(VA203) - 06.08.11 22:52 UTC

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/808.asp

Payload integration is underway at the Spaceport for Ariane 5's next flight[/size]
June 24, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA203

Both satellite passengers for Arianespace's fourth heavy-lift mission of 2011 are well advanced in their integration phase as preparations move forward for the July 1 launch from French Guiana.  

Following activity inside the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building, BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is now integrated on the workhorse launch vehicle. The spacecraft was positioned earlier this week, placing it as the lower passenger in the payload "stack."

Marking another preparation milestone this week, the ASTRA 1N communications relay platform has been encapsulated in its payload fairing – completing the payload stack's upper component. This step occurred inside the satellite staging area of Ariane 5's Final Assembly Building, where the ogive-shaped fairing was lowered into place over the spacecraft and the SYLDA dispenser system.

The fairing is designed to protect ASTRA 1N – which will ride as the upper passenger on Ariane 5's July 1 flight – during the heavy-lift launch vehicle's climb-out through the atmosphere's dense layers.

Ariane 5's payload lift performance for the upcoming mission is more than 9,000 kg., which includes a combined mass of 8,240 kg. for its two satellite passengers, plus the launcher's dual-payload dispenser system and satellite integration hardware.

The EADS Astrium-built ASTRA 1N is a state-of-the-art Ku-band spacecraft that will deliver pan-European direct-to-home broadcast services for satellite operator SES ASTRA. It initially will provide interim capacity from an orbital position of 28.2 deg. East following its deployment by Ariane 5, and subsequently will be moved to SES ASTRA's prime location at 19.2 deg. East for primary and backup services.

BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is a hybrid broadcasting and telecommunications satellite manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems on behalf of B-SAT Corporation and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. Based on Lockheed Martin's A2100A platform, it will be operated from an orbital position of 110 deg. East longitude.

In the photo above, Ariane 5's payload fairing is lowered into place over ASTRA 1N inside the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building (at left), while BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is positioned for its installation on the launcher's cryogenic stage (at center and right).[/size]





Ariane 5's payload fairing is adorned with customer logos as preparations move ahead for the dual-passenger flight on July 1.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/810.asp

Parallel Ariane 5 launch campaigns keep up Arianespace's 2011 mission pace[/size]

June 27, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA203 & VA204

Preparations for the next two Ariane 5 flights are underway at the Spaceport, once again demonstrating Arianespace's flexibility in meeting customer timing for the orbiting of their telecommunications satellites as the company maintains its mission pace with the industry's reference heavy-lift workhorse launcher.

The Ariane 5 for next Friday's liftoff is now complete following installation of the upper composite atop the launch vehicle.  This component includes the ASTRA 1N spacecraft and the SYLDA dispenser system on which it is installed – both of which are encapsulated in Ariane 5's protective payload fairing.

Ariane 5 was "topped off" when the upper composite was positioned over the BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R payload, which earlier was installed on the launcher's core stage.  This activity occurred in the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building.

The July 1 mission with BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R and ASTRA 1N will be Arianespace's fourth of six Ariane 5 flights in 2011, with the payload lift performance for this upcoming flight set at approximately 9,095 kg. – which includes 8,240 kg. for the two satellites.

ASTRA 1N will be orbited by Arianespace for the Luxembourg-based operator SES ASTRA, while BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is to be lofted for the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems as part of a turnkey contract for the Japanese operators B-SAT Corporation and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation.

The upper composite with ASTRA 1N is positioned on Arianespace's Ariane 5 to be launched on July 1, placing it atop BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R (photo at left).  In the two photos at right, preparations begin for the subsequent Ariane 5 mission as its core cryogenic stage is raised for integration, and the first of two solid propellant boosters is moved toward the Launcher Assembly Building.[/size]

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/images/launch-kits/launch-kit-pdf-eng/V203-ASTRA-1N_BSAT-3c-JCSAT-EN.pdf

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/812.asp

Ready for launch: Arianespace's fourth Ariane 5 of 2011 rolls out for its July 1 liftoff[/size]

June 30, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA203

The Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone has welcomed another heavy-lift Ariane 5 as preparations enter the final phase for Arianespace's dual-passenger mission tomorrow with the ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R satellites.

Emerging from the Final Assembly Building in the French Guiana sunshine, the Ariane 5 was transferred atop one of two operational mobile launch tables for the workhorse Arianespace vehicle.

All is ready for the countdown leading to a liftoff on July 1 during a launch window that opens at 6:43 p.m. (21h43 Universal time) on Arianespace's fourth mission in 2011.  The two passengers for this flight are direct-to-home (DTH) television broadcasting satellites with coverage over Europe and Japan, which are to be delivered to geostationary transfer orbit by the Ariane 5.

To be deployed first during the 38-minute mission is ASTRA 1N, which was built by EADS Astrium in Toulouse, France for the Luxembourg-based operator SES Astra.  Based on Astrium's Eurostar E3000 platform, ASTRA 1N has an estimated liftoff mass of 5,350 kg. and is fitted with 52 active Ku-band transponders.  It initially is to deliver interim capacity from an orbital position of 28.2 deg. East, and subsequently will move to SES ASTRA's prime location at 19.2 deg. East for primary and backup services during a designed operational lifetime of 15 years.

BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems at its plant in Newtown, Pennsylvania as part of a turnkey contract for Japanese operators B-SAT Corporation and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation.  Produced using an A2100 A platform, this satellite will weigh approximately 2,910 kg. at launch, and is to be positioned at 110 deg. East longitude in geostationary orbit, and offers a design life exceeding 16 years. BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is fitted with 24 active Ku-band transponders, and is primarily designed to provide direct TV broadcast links for all of Japan.

Tomorrow's mission follows Arianespace's previous Ariane 5 flights in 2011 that orbited the ST-2 and GSAT-8 telecommunications satellites on May 20; the Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat New Dawn relay spacecraft on April 22; and the Johannes Kepler Automated Transfer Vehicle for servicing of the International Space Station on February 16.

Riding atop its mobile launch table, the Ariane 5 with ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R moves into the Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone.[/size]

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/814.asp

Final countdown underway for Arianespace's launch with ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R[/size]

July 1, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA203

The Ariane 5 launch for two key Arianespace international customers has entered its final countdown for a sunset liftoff today from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

This mission will loft the ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R satellites, delivering a total payload performance into geostationary transfer orbit estimated at 9,095 kg., which includes 8,240 kg. for the two passengers.

ASTRA 1N is to be deployed first during the flight, released from the upper position of Ariane 5's dual-payload "stack" at 27 minutes after liftoff, followed 11 minutes later by BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R.

Built by EADS Astrium in Toulouse, France for the Luxembourg-based operator SES S.A., the ASTRA 1N satellite carries 52 active Ku-band transponders for TV broadcast coverage.  Initially, it is to provide interim capacity from an orbital position of 28.2 deg. East, and subsequently will move to SES' prime location at 19.2 deg. East for primary and backup services during a designed operational lifetime of 15 years.

Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems produced BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R at its plant in Newtown, Pennsylvania as part of a turnkey contract for Japanese operators B-SAT Corporation and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. This satellite is designed primarily to provide direct TV broadcast links for all of Japan, and will operate at an orbital slot of 110 deg. East with a 16-plus-year design lifetime.

Ariane 5 is shown in the ELA-3 launch zone at the Spaceport, with the two propellant feed arms for its cryogenic upper stage extending from the umbilical mast.[/size]

[Salo]

Видеотрансляция:

http://www.videocorner.tv/videocorner2/live_flv/index.php?langue=en

[Salo]

C первого раза не получилось. Остановили отсчёт за две минуты до старта.

[Sharicoff]

Не хочет лететь. При свете стесняется.

[Sharicoff]

"Смеркалось..."

Окно до 23:06 UTC

[Sharicoff]

Интересно, как там в Гвиане насчет комаров? Сильно жрут или так себе?

[Salo]

Усё, сегодня не летим.

[G.K.]

Интересно, как там в Гвиане насчет комаров? Сильно жрут или так себе?

Ну по моему имхо в самой Гвиане (в стране) кровососов  хватает. Вот только есть ли болота вокруг космодрома, чтоб они там плодились и размножались- сомневаюсь.

[G.K.]

Интересно, как там в Гвиане насчет комаров? Сильно жрут или так себе?

Ну по моему имхо в самой Гвиане (в стране) кровососов  хватает. Вот только есть ли болота вокруг космодрома, чтоб они там плодились и размножались- сомневаюсь.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/817.asp

A postponement for Arianespace's mission with ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R[/size]

July 1, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA203

Ariane 5's dual-payload mission with the ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R satellites was postponed today after a problem with the Spaceport infrastructure was indicated shortly before the scheduled liftoff.

Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said the final countdown was stopped following an indication that a liquid hydrogen valve had not closed properly in the ground system network leading to Ariane 5's core cryogenic stage.

After initial troubleshooting did not fully identify the cause of this anomaly, the mission postponement decision was made.  The launch vehicle, as well as its ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R satellite payloads, were placed in a stand-by mode and are being maintained in fully safe conditions.

Le Gall said a new launch date will be announced as soon as possible.[/size]

[Salo]

http://www.rian.ru/science/20110702/396427824.html

Запуск ракеты Ariane отложен из-за технической проблемы[/size]

06:47 02/07/2011

МОСКВА, 2 июл - РИА Новости. Техническая проблема привела в пятницу к отсрочке запуска европейской ракеты-носителя Ariane с космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане, сообщает агентство Рейтер со ссылкой на европейское космическое агентство Arianespace.

"Во время финального отчета времени (до запуска) было обнаружено, что клапан в жидкотопливном водородном двигателе открыт", - заявил глава Arianespace Жан-Ив ле Галль (Jean-Yves Le Gall).

Новая дата запуска будет назначена в ближайшее время, отметил ле Галль.

Ракета должна была доставить в космос спутник Astra 1N люксембургской телекоммуникационной компании SES ASTRA и спутник BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R японской компании B-SAT Corp. Оба спутника предназначены для обеспечения телевизионного вещания.[/size]

[anik]

Spaceflight Now сообщает, что пуск откладывается примерно на 20 дней для замены клапана.

[hecata]

Это все тот же клапан, что был в предыдущие разы?

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/818.asp

Ariane 5's launch is postponed approximately 20 days for a component change-out[/size]

July 2, 2011 – Ariane Flight VA203

Arianespace's Ariane 5 mission with the ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R satellite will be delayed to allow a valve replacement for the launcher's cryogenic core stage, which follows an anomaly that interrupted the final countdown yesterday in French Guiana.

To replace this valve – which did not function properly – Ariane 5 will be transferred from the Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone back to the Final Assembly Building.

Arianespace estimates that the valve's replacement, along with the associated operations, will require approximately 20 days, with a new launch date to be announced shortly.

During the current operations, the Ariane 5 and its two satellite payloads are being maintained in fully safe conditions.[/size]

[Salo]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=6114.msg763355#msg763355

26 July - Astra 1N & BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R - Ariane 5 ECA (VA203)

[Salo]

http://www.forum-conquete-spatiale.fr/t12353p60-ariane-5-eca-va203-astra-1n-bsat-3c-26-juillet-2011

Mar 19 Juil 2011 - 10:48

"Ariane nous a annonc