Mission Update - V197

July 28, 2010

Another Ariane 5 takes shape at the Spaceport

Initial assembly of the fourth Ariane 5 for liftoff in 2010 has begun in the Spaceport’s Integration Building. The build-up of this latest vehicle started earlier this week with the erection of its core cryogenic stage.

The next step is the mating of the launcher’s two solid rocket motors, which are installed on each side of the core cryogenic stage.  This will be followed by a “topping off” of the vehicle with its ESC-A cryogenic upper stage and the vehicle equipment bay.

See the Mission Update for more information.

Mission Update - V196

July 26, 2010

Ariane 5 is ready to enter the final launch preparation phase

The Ariane 5 for Arianespace’s third mission in 2010 is ready to receive its dual-satellite payload in advance of next week’s launch from the Spaceport.

During the mission, this Ariane 5 ECA will carry a pair of Thales Alenia Space-produced spacecraft: NILESAT 201 and RASCOM-QAF1R. Both satellites have been undergoing processing following their June arrival in French Guiana.

The upcoming mission is designated V196, signifying the 196th launch of an Ariane family vehicle. 

For additional details on this activity, see the Mission Update.

Feature story

July 8, 2010

Jean-Yves Le Gall prepares Europe-Japan council meeting

A planning session for the next European Union-Japan Business Round Table meeting was led by Arianespace’s Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall.

This “brainstorming” gathering was held at the European Union in Brussels, and involved a group of business representatives who joined Le Gall, along with another group that participated from Tokyo by video conference.

For more information, see the Feature story.

Feature story

June 30, 2010

The no. 2 Automated Transfer Vehicle begins its checkout

The second Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for launch by Ariane 5 is now undergoing its final assembly and checkout in French Guiana.  

Named after German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler, this ATV will service the International Space Station as a follow-up to the no. 1 ATV Jules Verne – which was orbited by Arianespace in March 2008.

Our photo report details the ongoing activity with ATV in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility.

Press Release

June 28, 2010

Satellite operator ARSAT selects Arianespace to launch Arsat-1

Arianespace has been chosen to orbit the first geostationary satellite built in Argentina, Arsat-1 for ARSAT (Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales Sociedad Anonima), following an international competitive bid. An Ariane 5 or Soyuz vehicle is scheduled to launch this spacecraft - which will weigh about 2,900 kg. at liftoff - from the Spaceport in French Guiana by mid-2012.

See the press release for more details.

Mission Update - V195

June 26, 2010

Arianespace marks the 37th consecutive mission success for Ariane 5

Ariane 5 lofted payloads for the Middle East and South Korea during tonight’s on-target mission from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Lifting off from the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch facility in French Guiana, the Ariane 5 ECA placed Arabsat-5A and COMS into geostationary transfer orbits – providing a payload delivery performance of approximately 7,400 kg.

For additional information, see the Mission Update.

High-resolution photos of Ariane 5’s June 26 launch with Arabsat-5A and COMS
Photo credit: ©2010 ESA-CNES-Arianespace/Photo Optique Vidéo CSG

Press Release

June 19, 2010

An important presence at the 2010 Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum

Arianespace’s upcoming introduction of Soyuz at the Spaceport was a topic of high level attention at the 2010 Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia, which brought together French and Russian business leaders, as well as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. 

The meeting was concluded with the signing of an agreement that will allow Arianespace to order up to 10 Soyuz launches to be performed from the Guiana Space Center.  This accord was signed by Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, and Anatoly Perminov, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, and witnessed by the Russian and French presidents. 

See the press release for full details.

High-resolution image of the Soyuz agreement’s signing:
(Photo credit: ©2010 Arianespace)

Press Release

June 15, 2010

Arianespace at CommunicASia 2010

Arianespace is underscoring its 30 years of success with a key presence at CommunicAsia 2010 – Asia’s international trade event for the global information and communications technologies sector – from June 15-18. Since its founding, Arianespace has signed more than 300 launch Service & Solutions contracts - including eight new contracts in 2010 - and has launched 279 satellites for 76 customers from 101 countries, accounting for more than half of all commercial satellites now in service

See the press release for more details.

Press Release

June 14, 2010

Arianespace to launch Vietnam’s VINASAT-2 telecommunications satellite

Arianespace has contracted with Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems to launch the VINASAT-2 satellite for Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group. An Ariane 5 or Soyuz vehicle is scheduled to orbit this spacecraft – which will weigh approximately 2,970 kg. at liftoff – from the Spaceport in French Guiana during the second quarter of 2012.

For more information, read the press release.

Soyuz at the Spaceport

June 14, 2010

Construction of the mobile gantry for Soyuz moves into its final phase

The mobile gantry at Soyuz’ new launch site in French Guiana is nearing completion as this structure’s framework is now complete, and the metallic siding is being installed. The gantry is one of the major differences at the Spaceport’s new home for Soyuz when compared to the workhorse vehicle’s long-existing launch sites at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.

Read the Soyuz update for more details.

On the Move

June 11, 2010

Arianespace underscores contributions of German industry during Berlin Air Show

At its traditional Berlin Air Show reception, Arianespace highlighted Germany’s involvement in the Ariane launcher family’s decades of success.

According to Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall, the contributions of German industry – as well as its space agencies and institutions – have enabled Ariane to become the benchmark for the commercial space lift sector.

Read the latest On the Move story for more details.

Press release

June 8, 2010

Arianespace at the ILA Berlin Air Show

Arianespace is underscoring its 30 years of success with a key presence at the 2010 ILA Berlin Air Show.

Since its founding, Arianespace has signed more than 300 launch Service & Solutions contracts – including eight new contracts in 2010 – and has launched 279 satellites for 76 customers from 101 countries, accounting for more than half of all commercial satellites now in service.

Read the Press release for more details.

Press Release

June 7, 2010

Arianespace at the International Union of Aviation Insurers’ Annual General Meeting

At this week’s annual meeting of the International Union of Aerospace Insurers, Arianespace reaffirmed the commitment to a policy of total transparency in its relations with the insurance industry. Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall is the guest of honor at this event, which is being held from June 6-10 in Manchester, U.K.

For additional information, see the press release.

On the Move

June 1, 2010

Looking ahead to lofting the James Webb Space Telescope

Arianespace’s future role in launching the most powerful space telescope ever developed is being highlighted as part of World Science Festival in New York, where a full-scale mockup of the NASA James Webb Space Telescope is on display.

An Ariane 5 will be used to orbit this massive space-based observatory, which is scheduled for liftoff from the Spaceport in 2014.

For more on Arianespace's presence at World Science Festival, see our On the Move story.