Mission Update
Final countdown underway for tonight's Ariane 5 launch
July 7, 2008
The Ariane 5 is ready for liftoff from the Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone. |
Arianespace has begun the final countdown for this evening's dual-payload Ariane 5 mission, which will mark the workhorse launcher's fourth flight of 2008.
The countdown began this morning at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, and will include final electrical checks on the Ariane 5 launcher, followed by the fueling of its main cryogenic stage with liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen propellant.
Liftoff of the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA vehicle from the Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone is planned during a launch window that opens at 6:47 p.m. and continues to 7:21 p.m., local time in French Guiana.
This latest Ariane 5 mission will carry the ProtoStar I and BADR-6 telecommunications satellites, and it maintains Arianespace's accelerated launch rate in 2008. The company plans to perform a total of seven flights with the Ariane 5 this year – the busiest since the launcher's commercial introduction in 1999.
Launch Window |
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UTC |
Paris, France |
Riyad, Saudi Arabia |
Kourou, French Guinea |
Washington, D.C., USA |
From 9:47 p.m. |
From 11:47 p.m. |
From 12:47 a.m. |
From 6:47 p.m. |
From 5:47 p.m. |
- Watch the launch live in Arianespace's Video Corner.
- Arianespace's official Launch Kit has additional information on this Ariane 5 mission with ProtoStar I & BADR-6.
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