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Ariane 5 September 1, 2017

Ariane 5 is cleared for launch on Arianespace’s upcoming heavy-lift mission from French Guiana

Arianespace’s fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2017 has been given the “green light” for liftoff on September 5 following today’s successful launch readiness review, which was conducted at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

This milestone – held prior to each Arianespace flight – confirmed that the heavy-lift vehicle and its dual-satellite payload of Intelsat 37e and BSAT-4a are ready for launch, as well as the Spaceport’s infrastructure and the network of downrange tracking stations.

With approval granted, Ariane 5 is cleared for its September 4 rollout from the Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone. Liftoff will occur the following day during a 33-minute launch window that opens at 6:51 p.m. local time in French Guiana.

A heavy-lift delivery for Arianespace’s Ariane 5

Total payload lift performance for next week’s liftoff is approximately 10,838 kg., with the Intelsat 37e and BSAT-4a satellites being deployed to geostationary transfer orbit during a flight lasting 47 minutes. The mission is designated Flight VA239 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system, signifying the 239th with an Ariane family vehicle.

Positioned in Ariane 5’s upper passenger position and encapsulated by the launcher’s ogive-shaped payload fairing, Intelsat 37e – produced by Boeing – is the next satellite in Intelsat’s high-throughput EpicNG series for launch.

Weighing an estimated 6,440 kg. at liftoff, the spacecraft will provide capacity for wireless backhaul, enterprise VSAT and mobility networks, carrying out its mission from a 342-deg. East orbital slot.

BSAT-4a – Flight VA239’s lower passenger, contained in Ariane 5’s SYLDA dispenser system – is being launched by Arianespace as part of a turnkey contract between Japan’s Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) and U.S.-based satellite manufacturer SSL.

To be operated from an orbital position of 110 deg. East, this spacecraft will be used for Direct-To-Home (DTH) television relay in Japan, as well as to expand the availability of advanced television services (such as 4K/8K ultra-high definition TV). BSAT-4a will weight approximately 3,520 kg. at liftoff.

 

Launch window for Flight VA239:

French Guiana Washington, D.C. Universal Time (UTC) Paris
 Between 6:51 p.m. and
7:24 p.m. on Sept. 5
Between 5:51 p.m. and
6:24 p.m. on Sept. 5
Between 21:51 and
22:24 on Sept. 5
Between 11:51 p.m. and
00:24 a.m. on Sept. 5/6

 

 More details are available in the VA239  launch kit:

Ariane Flight VA239
PDF / 692 KB

Intelsat website: www.intelsat.com

B-SAT website: www.b-sat.co.jp/english

Boeing website: www.boeing.com/space

SSL website: www.sslmda.com

Ariane 5 August 29, 2017

Ariane 5 is completed for its dual-payload mission on September 5

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