Ariane-5 launched from Kourou

Ariane-5 launched from Kourou
Paris LCI Television in French 1630 GMT 18 Dec 04
from report by French La Chaine Info TV on 18 December
An Ariane-5 space rocket has just taken off from Kourou [French Guiana], carrying on board seven satellites, which will make it easier to listen in and watch what is going on in the world. [In a further report timed at 16:46 gmt, AFP reported that the rocket was launched at 16:26:12 gmt, and that it was carrying on board the Helios II-A military observation satellite as well as six auxiliary satellites]

[As usual, I'd be curious to know whether "tracking" means telemetry
and
beacon reception, or use of radar. I suspect the former, but it would
be
interesting to verify that. Also, what does "observation and control"
imply?]



http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english...ent_401498.htm

China helps track French satellite's orbit
By Jiang Zhuqing (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-12-19 23:44


Satellite observation and control networks in China and France
yesterday
successfully tracked the orbiting of a satellite launched by the French

Government.

This is the first time that China's satellite observation and control
systems have provided tracking services for foreign satellites, said an

official from the Xi'an Satellite Control Centre yesterday in Northwest

China's Shaanxi Province, according to the Beijing-based China News
Service.

According to Xinhua, France launched an Ariane rocket on Saturday,
lifting
into orbit the new-generation of military satellites, Helios II A and
six
micro satellites for different scientific purposes. However, the
Chinese
official did not identify the concrete satellite for which the Xi'an
centre
provided support.

Three ground observation stations at the centre carried out relays of
information gathered from three circles of observation and control of
the
satellite, said the official, who was anonymous in the report.

The use of international satellite observation and control networks is
an
effective method for different countries to share data as well to make
up
for scarce observation resources in each country, he said.
In November 2001, China connected its satellite observation system for
the
first time to the French side's systems, the official said.

One observation station of the French side later conducted observation
and
control support to the orbiting of the Shenzhou I and II spacecraft.

Later, China and Sweden successfully realized network connection on
satellite observation and control; and a long-term co-operation
agreement
was then signed by the two sides on dealing with emerging issues,
according
to the official.

In April of this year, an emergency problem occurred on the "Marine No
1"
satellite, and the centre in Xi'an conducting a rescue of the satellite

utilized an observation station in Sweden.

In May 2000, the centre selected one of its observation stations to
conduct
a connection test as a node of French observation system, officials
said.
The success of the test proved that China's space flight observation
and
control system could meet the requirements for observation and control
for
foreign satellites.

a écrit :
[As usual, I'd be curious to know whether "tracking" means telemetry
and
beacon reception, or use of radar. I suspect the former, but it would
be
interesting to verify that. Also, what does "observation and control"
imply?]



As far as I know, China only provided telemetry reception for the french
space agency CNES.

CNES needed a bit of assistance as they had 6 satellites to deploy in orbit
in one launch (Helios 2A, 4 Essaim and the Parasol microsat.)
Cyrille