Launch News ARIANESPACE FLIGHT VA204 ARABSAT 5C & SES-2

[Notebook]

LANCEMENT ARIANESPACE VA204
ARABSAT 5C et SES-2​

La Revue d’Aptitude au Lancement (RAL) s’est déroulée le dimanche 18 septembre 2011 à Kourou et a autorisée les opérations de chronologie pour le Vol Ariane 5 ECA 204 – ARABSAT 5C et SES-2

Pour son cinquième lancement de l’année, Arianespace mettra en orbite deux satellites de télécommunications: ARABSAT 5C pour l’opérateur Arabsat et SES-2 pour l’opérateur SES.

Aujourd’hui, Ariane 5 est le seul lanceur opérationnel disponible sur le marché commercial capable de lancer deux charges utiles simultanément et d'assurer un éventail complet de missions, des lancements commerciaux vers l’orbite géostationnaire aux lancements spécifiques sur des orbites particulières.

Le lancement sera effectué depuis l'Ensemble de Lancement Ariane n° 3 (ELA 3) à Kourou en Guyane française.Le décollage du lanceur Ariane 5 ECA est prévu le plus tôt possible dans la fenêtre de lancement suivante :

>> Heure de Kourou : de 18h38 à 20h02, le 20 septembre 2011
>> GMT/TU : de 21h38 à 23h02, le 20 septembre 2011
>> Heure de Paris : de 23h38 à 01h02, le 20-21 septembre 2011
>> Heure de Washington : de 17h38 à 19h02, le 20 septembre 2011

mhtml:{D6546F1D-9449-4AAC-B19A-517D6C10CC1A}mid://00000033/!x-usc:http://www.videocorner.tv/

http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm
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ARIANESPACE FLIGHT VA204
ARABSAT 5C & SES-2​

THE LAUNCH READINESS REVIEW (RAL) took place in Kourou on Sunday September 18, 2011 and authorized count-down operations for the ARABSAT 5C & SES-2 launch.

Arianespace will orbit two communications and broadcast satellites on its fifth launch of the year: Arabsat 5C for the operator Arabsat and SES-2 for the operator SES.

The choice of Arianespace by leading space communications operators and manufacturers is clear international recognition of the company’s excellence in launch services. Based on its proven reliability and availability, Arianespace continues to confirm its position as the world’s benchmark launch system. THE ARIANE 5 ECA LAUNCHER LIFT-OFF for this flight is scheduled on September 20, 2011 as soon as possible within the following launch window:

>> Kourou Time: Between 06:38pm and 08:02pm on September 20, 2011
>> UTC/GMT: Between 09:38pm and 11:02pm on September 20, 2011
>> Paris time: Between 11:38pm and 01:02am on September 20-21, 2011
>> Washington Time: Between 05:38pm and 07:02pm on September 20, 2011

http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm​

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

This launch might not go today: the local workers at French Guiana are going on strike.... :blink:

Source (in French): http://www.aeroplans.fr/Europespace/va204-report-greve.html

 

[N_Molson]

According to the article you quote, the launch is delayed by 24h. But Arianespace site has not moved the date.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

This launch might not go today: the local workers at French Guiana are going on strike.... :blink:

Source (in French): http://www.aeroplans.fr/Europespace/va204-report-greve.html

Now confirmed by Arianespace.

 

[N_Molson]

From SpaceFlight Now :

Arianespace and CNES, the French space agency, plan to negotiate with the trade union later Tuesday and into Wednesday in hopes of launching Wednesday night.

I won't even begin to try explaining how strikes work in France, but it isn't unusual and has its place in the French system. Also know that French Guyana is a very special place (a former colony, now fully integrated to the country - on an administrative point of view -).

So, let's hope they will rise the salaries by a few euros as a symbol and that this will be enough to launch this evening

The Ariane 5 rocket on the launch pad Tuesday afternoon. Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Go for launch today!

 

[Donamy]

My favorite words, " Go for lunch !" ...Oh wait, never mind.

 

[N_Molson]

Météo France forecasts (for Kourou) :

21/09/2011, Afternoon

Sky : cloudy, variable with possible showers.
Wind : East, moderate
Sea : calm
Temperature max. : 32°C

22/09/2011, Morning

Sky : cloudy, variable with possible showers.
Wind : North-East, moderate
Sea : calm
Temperature min. : 23°C

The weather should improve significantly on Friday, with much less cloud cover.

 

[Notebook]

Arianespace Vol VA204
Ariane 5 ECA – ARABSAT 5C – SES-2
Lancement prévu dans la nuit du 21 au 22 septembre

Les installations du Centre Spatial Guyanais étant à présent disponibles, Arianespace a décidé la reprise des opérations de chronologie du lancement VA204.

Le Vol Ariane 204 doit mettre en orbite de transfert géostationnaire les satellites de télécommunications ARABSAT 5C et SES-2.

Le décollage du lanceur Ariane 5 ECA est prévu dans la nuit du mercredi 21 au jeudi 22 septembre 2011, le plus tôt possible à l'intérieur de la fenêtre de lancement suivante :

de 18h38 à 20h02, heure de Kourou

de 17h38 à 19h02, heure de Washington D.C.

de 21h38 à 23h02, en Temps Universel, le mercredi 21 septembre

de 23h38 à 01h02, heure de Paris, dans la nuit du mercredi 21 au jeudi 22 septembre

de 00h38 à 02h02, heure de Riyad, le jeudi 22 septembre.

http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm




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Arianespace Flight VA204
Ariane 5 ECA – ARABSAT 5C – SES-2
Launch slated on the night of 21 september

Since the facilities at the Guiana Space Center are now available, Arianespace has decided to restart the launch chronology of Arianespace Flight VA204.

Flight VA204 will place into geostationary transfer orbit the telecommunications satellites ARABSAT 5C and SES-2.

Liftoff of the Ariane 5 ECA launcher is set for the night of Wednesday, September 21, as early as possible in the following launch window:

From 6:38 p.m. to 8:02 p.m., local time in Kourou, French Guiana

From 5:38 p.m. to 7:02 p.m. in Washington D.C.

From 9:38 p.m. to 11:02 p.m. UTC, on Wednesday, September 21

From 11:38 p.m. to 01:02 a.m. in Paris, during the night of Wednesday, September 21 to Thursday, September 22

From 00:38 a.m. to 02:02 a.m. in Riyadh on Thursday, September 22.


http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm

 

[N_Molson]

de 23h38 à 01h02, heure de Paris, dans la nuit du mercredi 21 au jeudi 22 septembre

Aw, I have to get up at 7:30 AM tomorrow... So checklist :

- Coffee tanks : one at 10%, the other is full. GO !
- Sound suppression water : available on the tap, else 6 liters of mineral available. GO !
- Igniters : 2x electric hot plates, 1x propane-powered camping stove as backup, tank 30%. GO !
- Sugar boosters : need 1/2, more than 200 units available. GO !
- Structural integrity : 2 cups ready for duty. GO !
- Tank ullage device : coffee spoons are ready. GO !

OK, I guess I'm go !

 

[Notebook]

Such is life, its hard work being an Orbinaut!

N.

 

[N_Molson]

Mission 100% successful

Live coverage just began.

---------- Post added at 09:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:24 PM ----------

T-12 minutes and counting.

---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 PM ----------

T-10 minutes and counting, all green.

---------- Post added at 09:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 PM ----------

T-7 minutes and counting, all good so far.

Synchronized sequence started (guidance becomes gradually internal)

---------- Post added at 09:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 PM ----------

T-4 minutes and counting, looking good.

---------- Post added at 09:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:34 PM ----------

T-2 minutes and counting.

---------- Post added at 09:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 PM ----------

T-1 minute and counting

---------- Post added at 09:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:37 PM ----------

We have liftoff !

---------- Post added at 09:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 PM ----------

T+65 seconds, all parameters nominal.

---------- Post added at 09:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:39 PM ----------

T+2 minutes and 20 seconds, boosters separated.

T+3 minutes and 10 seconds, fairing jettisoned (2.4 tons)

---------- Post added at 09:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:40 PM ----------

T+4 minutes and 20 seconds, altitude 150 km.

---------- Post added at 09:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:42 PM ----------

T+5 minutes 47 seconds, velocity 3,500 m/s

---------- Post added at 09:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 PM ----------

T+7 minutes 47 seconds, altitude 188.9 km and now dropping as planned.

---------- Post added at 09:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 PM ----------

T+9 minutes, MECO and 1-2 separation successful.

Second stage engine ignited, velocity 7,000 m/s

---------- Post added at 09:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:48 PM ----------

T+12 minutes, velocity 7,310 m/s

---------- Post added at 09:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:50 PM ----------

T+14 minutes, telemetry acquired by Ascencion Island station.

---------- Post added at 09:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 PM ----------

T+15 minutes 45 seconds. Altitude 165 km and now rising, velocity 7,900 m/s

---------- Post added at 09:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 PM ----------

T+18 minutes 41 seconds, altitude 200 km.

Telemetry acquired by Libreville station (Gabon, Africa)

---------- Post added at 10:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:57 PM ----------

T+22 minutes 43, velocity now 9,000 m/s, altitude 395 km.

---------- Post added at 10:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:01 PM ----------

T+22 minutes 40 seconds

Telemetry acquired by Malindi station, Kenya.

T+23 minutes 10 seconds

SECO 1

Velocity 9,250 m/s

T+25 minutes : the SCAR system (RCS) performs orientation manoeuvers.

---------- Post added at 10:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 PM ----------

T+27 minutes 26 seconds, altitude > 1000 km

ARABSAT-5C successfully separated ! :thumbup:

T+34 minutes 40 seconds, Sylda-5A (height 6,4 m) composite (inner fairing) jettisoned.

---------- Post added at 10:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:06 PM ----------

T+35 minutes 55 seconds

SES-2 successfully separated ! :thumbup:

Mission is 100% successful for the Ariane-5 Launcher.

 

[Notebook]

Esa article:

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM8DL3UNSG_index_0.html

N.

 

[orb]

Video replay of the launch

Arianespace: Arabsat-5C and SES-2 are orbited on Arianespace's fifth Ariane 5 flight of 2011

 

[kuddel]

Hi everyone,

after I watched the "show" last night I still have a question:
Of the 3 values in the (lower left part of) the screen

S = 0.0 deg
A = xxx.x km
V = x.xx km/s

'A' and 'V' are clear to me (altitude and velocity), but what stands 'S' for?

Thanks in advance,
Kuddel

 

[N_Molson]

I think it is the deviation to the nominal trajectory. So it's normal if it stays at 0.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Money-saving missile detection sensor powered on:

The U.S. Air Force announced Thursday an innovative infrared missile detection sensor launched in September on a commercial communications satellite is functioning as expected, fulfilling a groundbreaking partnership between the private and public space sectors.

The Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload, also known as CHIRP, was powered up in late October on the SES 2 communications satellite, a privately-owned spacecraft launched Sept. 21 from French Guiana.

{...}