Mission Update

Mission Update

Ariane 5 is ready for tonight's liftoff with Skynet 5C and Turksat 3A

May 30, 2008

Arianespace's third Ariane 5 of 2008 is ready for tonight's liftoff with its dual-passenger payload of the U.K.'s Skynet 5C military communications satellite and the Turksat 3A relay spacecraft for Turkey.

The Ariane 5 was transferred yesterday afternoon from its Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone at Europe's Spaceport, where final preparations are now underway for tonight's liftoff in a launch window that opens at 6:52 p.m. and continues to 7:35 p.m.

This 183rd launch of a vehicle from the Ariane family is part of Arianespace's sustained mission rate in 2008, during which seven Ariane 5 flights are planned.

Tonight's mission underscores Arianespace's capability to efficiently handle a full range of payloads for international customers. It pairs up Skynet 5C - a secure military telecommunications satellite designed to deliver resilient, survivable and secure communications for military and government users, with the Turksat 3A Ku-band platform for civilian telecommunication services and direct TV broadcasting over Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

Launch Window

Kourou, French Guiana

Washington, D.C., USA

UTC

Paris, France

Ankara, Turkey

From 6:52 p.m.
to 7:35 p.m.
on May 30, 2008

From 5:52 p.m.
to 6:35 p.m.
on May 30, 2008

From 9:52 p.m.
to 10:35 p.m.
on May 30, 2008

From 11:52 p.m.
to 00:35 a.m.
on May 30/31, 2008

From 00:52 a.m.
to 01:35 a.m.
on May 31, 2008

About Arianespace | Launch services | Latest news | Press center | Careers | Contact us | Site map | RSS
Français | Terms and conditions of use | Online privacy statement
© 2010 Arianespace