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This photo shows the Ariane 5 for Arianespace’s upcoming dual-satellite mission (visible in the background) as it is transferred atop its mobile launch table to the Final Assembly Building. In the foreground is the other Ariane 5 launch table, which is ready to be moved into the Launcher Integration Building for the following mission. (Arianespace) – The Ariane 5 for Arianespace’s next dual-satellite mission has moved to the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, marking delivery of the second workhorse launcher in 2008. With this milestone, preparations continue on schedule for the heavy-lift Ariane 5’s April 18 launch, which will carry the Star One C2 and VINASAT-1 telecommunications satellites. Ariane 5’s rollout from the Launcher Integration Building to the Final Assembly Building occurred yesterday, using the Spaceport’s rail transportation infrastructure. The transfer represented this vehicle’s formal handover from industrial prime contractor Astrium – which was responsible for its build-up, to Arianespace for payload installation and the subsequent launch operations. The April 18 mission will carry a combined satellite payload mass of approximately 6,700 kg. In the Ariane 5’s dual-passenger configuration, Star One C2 will be riding in the upper payload position and is to be released first during the flight sequence. VINASAT-1 is the mission’s lower passenger, housed inside the Sylda 5 dispenser system, and it will be deployed approximately 31 minutes after liftoff. Star One C2 was built by Thales Alenia Space for Brazil’s Star One telecommunications operator, and carries a payload of 28 C-band transponders, 16 Ku-band transponders, and 1 X-band transponder. It is based on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus 3000B3 platform, and will have a liftoff mass of 4,100 kg. VINASAT-1 is a Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems-produced spacecraft for operation by the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group. This is the first Vietnamese telecommunications satellite, and the 2,600-kg. platform is equipped with 20 C- and Ku-band transponders. Arianespace is planning seven Ariane 5 missions in 2008, making it the busiest year of mission activity since the launcher’s commercial introduction in 1999. The first flight of 2008 was performed on March 9, when an Ariane 5 lofted the first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for the International Space Station. Feel free to discuss this article in the We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Intelligent Car Parking System Manufacturer , Automatic Swing Gate for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Intelligent Car Parking System.
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