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Mission Update

Arianespace's fifth Ariane 5 of 2008 is authorized for launch

August 12, 2008

This drawing illustrates the dual payload "stack" for Ariane 5's upcoming mission, with Superbird-7 as the upper passenger and AMC-21 below it.

The fifth heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission of 2008 has been cleared for this week's liftoff with its payload of two international Ku-band telecommunications satellites, maintaining the accelerated pace for Arianespace's workhorse commercial launch vehicle.

Approval for the August 14 flight was given following today's launch readiness review at the Spaceport in French Guiana – which validated the status of Ariane 5, its payloads of Superbird-7 and AMC-21, the launch infrastructure at Europe's Spaceport, and the network of downrange tracking stations.

This clears the way for tomorrow's transfer of Ariane 5 from its Final Assembly Building to the Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone, enabling the liftoff on Thursday during a launch window that opens at 5:44 p.m. and continues to 6:35 p.m., local time in French Guiana.

Superbird-7 will be orbited for Japanese operator Space Communications Corporation in the framework of a contract with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, while AMC-21 is to be launched for SES Americom, the American company of the SES group.

Superbird-7 is installed in the upper position of Ariane 5's payload "stack," and will be released first during the half-hour mission – with its separation planned at approximately 26 minutes into the flight. As the first "made in Japan" commercial satellite for a Japanese telecommunications operator, the spacecraft will operate from an orbital slot of 144 degrees East. It will succeed Space Communications Corporation's current Superbird-C satellite, and is designed to provide a wide range of telecommunications services with enhanced performance.

AMC-21 is riding in the Ariane 5's lower payload position, and is to be deployed by the Ariane 5 approximately 30 minutes after liftoff. This spacecraft was manufactured by Thales Alenia Space incorporating Orbital Sciences' STAR-2 satellite bus, and is designed for comprehensive service over the 50 U.S. states, along with high-power coverage for the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Arianespace is on track to launch seven Ariane 5 missions in 2008, making it the busiest year since the vehicle entered commercial service in 1999.

• 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.