Andrew Yee[_1_]
March 8th 08, 01:30 AM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
7 March 2008
Successful review for Jules Verne ATV launcher
The Launch Readiness Review (RAL), organised by Arianespace at Europe's
Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, last night gave the go-ahead for today's
transfer of Ariane 5 out to the launch pad.
About 80 people from Arianespace, Astrium, ESA and CNES participated in the
9-hour meeting in Kourou. Some 50 other experts joined by teleconference
from Arianespace's Headquarters in Evry-Courcouronnes, near Paris, France.
"This RAL review is quite an exhaustive and transparent process where all
the specialists and managers give an account of all their actions; it is
very healthy and reassuring for ESA and especially the ATV team. We are very
pleased with all the efforts and incredible work done by Arianespace and
CNES in Kourou," said Daniel Sacotte, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight,
Microgravity and Exploration Programmes.
Roll-out of the 760-tonne launcher and Jules Verne ATV from the Final
Assembly Building at Europe's Spaceport to the launch complex 3 (ELA 3) is
scheduled for today (Friday 7 March) at 10:35 local time in Kourou (14:35
CET, 13:45 UT).
Two days ago, ESA conducted a final pre-launch assessment to certify that
the Jules Verne spacecraft, integrated to the launcher, was ready to proceed
into final countdown.
The launch of the 19-tonne Jules Verne ATV requires a special adaptation of
Ariane 5 ES to launch the first ATV into low-Earth orbit. Ariane 5 ES
qualification was completed at the end January 2008, including a re-ignition
test of the upper EPS stage demonstrated in orbit in autumn 2007. This
special qualification also required the strengthening of the upper stage to
accommodate the 'heavy' ATV which is more than twice as heavy than any
previous Ariane 5 payload.
Jules Verne ATV was put through a 7.5-month launch campaign at the Spaceport
in Kourou, including 3.5 weeks of combined operations of Ariane 5 and ATV.
The Ariane 5 ES lift-off for this inaugural ATV flight is scheduled during
the night of 8 to 9 March 2008 at the following time:
05:03 CET on 9 March 2008
04:03 UT on 9 March 2008
01:03 Kourou time 9 March 2008
Rendezvous and docking of ATV with the ISS is scheduled for 3 April.
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMEVNK26DF_index_1.html ]
http://www.esa.int
7 March 2008
Successful review for Jules Verne ATV launcher
The Launch Readiness Review (RAL), organised by Arianespace at Europe's
Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, last night gave the go-ahead for today's
transfer of Ariane 5 out to the launch pad.
About 80 people from Arianespace, Astrium, ESA and CNES participated in the
9-hour meeting in Kourou. Some 50 other experts joined by teleconference
from Arianespace's Headquarters in Evry-Courcouronnes, near Paris, France.
"This RAL review is quite an exhaustive and transparent process where all
the specialists and managers give an account of all their actions; it is
very healthy and reassuring for ESA and especially the ATV team. We are very
pleased with all the efforts and incredible work done by Arianespace and
CNES in Kourou," said Daniel Sacotte, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight,
Microgravity and Exploration Programmes.
Roll-out of the 760-tonne launcher and Jules Verne ATV from the Final
Assembly Building at Europe's Spaceport to the launch complex 3 (ELA 3) is
scheduled for today (Friday 7 March) at 10:35 local time in Kourou (14:35
CET, 13:45 UT).
Two days ago, ESA conducted a final pre-launch assessment to certify that
the Jules Verne spacecraft, integrated to the launcher, was ready to proceed
into final countdown.
The launch of the 19-tonne Jules Verne ATV requires a special adaptation of
Ariane 5 ES to launch the first ATV into low-Earth orbit. Ariane 5 ES
qualification was completed at the end January 2008, including a re-ignition
test of the upper EPS stage demonstrated in orbit in autumn 2007. This
special qualification also required the strengthening of the upper stage to
accommodate the 'heavy' ATV which is more than twice as heavy than any
previous Ariane 5 payload.
Jules Verne ATV was put through a 7.5-month launch campaign at the Spaceport
in Kourou, including 3.5 weeks of combined operations of Ariane 5 and ATV.
The Ariane 5 ES lift-off for this inaugural ATV flight is scheduled during
the night of 8 to 9 March 2008 at the following time:
05:03 CET on 9 March 2008
04:03 UT on 9 March 2008
01:03 Kourou time 9 March 2008
Rendezvous and docking of ATV with the ISS is scheduled for 3 April.
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMEVNK26DF_index_1.html ]