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Feature story

A “titan” arrives at the Spaceport

February 9, 2010

A successful Arianespace launch campaign is the result of many elements, including the Spaceport’s highly-efficient infrastructure – which is regularly modernized and upgraded to support the company’s sustained mission rates.

The latest improvement is the arrival of a new multi-purpose tug/tractor, which will succeed previous-generation vehicles that have been used to transfer Ariane launch tables and perform other local transportation duties.

This new tug/tractor is an eight-wheel drive vehicle produced by French manufacturer Titan, and which has been customized to meet Arianespace’s operational requirements. 

The Titan is powered by a six cylinder, 540 horsepower engine and has two different transmission modes: a traditional torque-converter transmission function, and a mode that uses a hydro-static gearbox – allowing the engine to run at maximum power while its movement is controlled with precision to the millimeter.

One of its first operational evaluations was to move the launch table for Arianespace’s second Ariane 5 mission of 2010 into the Launcher Integration Building.  It also has been evaluated with the infrastructure at the Spaceport’s new Soyuz launch site.

The Titan has an impressive capability in its role as a tractor, as the vehicle can move a maximum weight of 1,900 metric tons.  This enables it to transfer an Ariane 5 launch table – complete with its mission-ready vehicle – from the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building to the launch pad.