Jacques van Oene
August 10th 05, 04:14 AM
August 9, 2005
Ariane 5 moves to the launch zone with its heavyweight payload
Preparations for Arianespace's upcoming flight of Ariane 5 with its THAICOM
4 (IPSTAR) satellite entered their final phase today as the launcher moved
out to the ELA-3 launch zone at the Spaceport in French Guiana.
The completed Ariane 5 Generic vehicle emerged from the final assembly
building at 11:15 a.m. (local time in French Guiana) under cloudy skies,
riding atop its massive mobile launch table for the 2.8-km.-long rollout to
the launch zone. The transfer used a dual rail line that links together the
Spaceport's major facilities, and the process was completed when the table
was locked in position over large flame ducts for Ariane 5's two solid
rocket motors and its core stage Vulcain cryogenic main engine.
Liftoff of Ariane 5 is scheduled for August 11 at the start of a two-hour
launch window that opens at 3:39 a.m. local time in French Guiana (06h39
GMT, 01:39 p.m. in Bangkok, and 08:39 a.m. in Paris).
THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) will be the heaviest commercial satellite ever delivered
to geosynchronous orbit. Built for Shin Satellite Plc of Thailand by Space
Systems/Loral, the large telecom platform has a liftoff mass of 14,300 lb.
(6,486 kg.), and is to provide Internet access service throughout 14
countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The satellite will generate 14 kW of electrical power during its planned
12-year service life, and will operate with 7 on-board antennas to create
112 spot and regional beams in the Ku and Ka frequency bands.
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Ariane 5 moves to the launch zone with its heavyweight payload
Preparations for Arianespace's upcoming flight of Ariane 5 with its THAICOM
4 (IPSTAR) satellite entered their final phase today as the launcher moved
out to the ELA-3 launch zone at the Spaceport in French Guiana.
The completed Ariane 5 Generic vehicle emerged from the final assembly
building at 11:15 a.m. (local time in French Guiana) under cloudy skies,
riding atop its massive mobile launch table for the 2.8-km.-long rollout to
the launch zone. The transfer used a dual rail line that links together the
Spaceport's major facilities, and the process was completed when the table
was locked in position over large flame ducts for Ariane 5's two solid
rocket motors and its core stage Vulcain cryogenic main engine.
Liftoff of Ariane 5 is scheduled for August 11 at the start of a two-hour
launch window that opens at 3:39 a.m. local time in French Guiana (06h39
GMT, 01:39 p.m. in Bangkok, and 08:39 a.m. in Paris).
THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) will be the heaviest commercial satellite ever delivered
to geosynchronous orbit. Built for Shin Satellite Plc of Thailand by Space
Systems/Loral, the large telecom platform has a liftoff mass of 14,300 lb.
(6,486 kg.), and is to provide Internet access service throughout 14
countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The satellite will generate 14 kW of electrical power during its planned
12-year service life, and will operate with 7 on-board antennas to create
112 spot and regional beams in the Ku and Ka frequency bands.
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info