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Mission Update

Arianespace takes delivery of the Ariane 5 for its first launch of 2009

January 27, 2009

Arianespace’s initial Ariane 5 mission of 2009 has taken another major step closer to its February 12 liftoff with the launch vehicle’s transfer to the Final Assembly Building at Europe’s Spaceport.

Yesterday’s rollout brought this heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA from the Launcher Integration Building (where it underwent integration of its core cryogenic stage, solid propellant boosters, cryogenic upper stage and equipment bay), to the Final Assembly Building for installation of its multi-satellite payload.

With the transfer, the Ariane 5 was formally delivered from industrial prime contractor EADS Astrium Space Transportation to Arianespace, which takes over responsibility for payload integration and the final launch operations.

The February 12 mission will carry a three-element payload, consisting of two primary telecommunications satellites and a pair of auxiliary passengers.  Its primary payloads are SES NEW SKIES’ NSS-9 relay platform, produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation of the United States; and Eutelsat’s HOT BIRD™ 10, which was built by EADS Astrium.

NSS-9 will have a liftoff mass of 2,230 kg. and is to provide relay services for a wide range of SES NEW SKIES customers, including broadcasters, government users, carriers across the Pacific islands and the maritime industry.   This spacecraft carries 44 active C-band transponders, and will be positioned at an orbital slot of 183 degrees East.

HOT BIRD 10 will operate from Eutelsat’s “premium video neighborhood” orbital location of 13 degrees East for cable and satellite broadcasting.  It is similar to the 4,880-kg. HOT BIRD™ 9 satellite orbited by Arianespace’s year-ending 2008 mission on December 20.

Joining HOT BIRD 10 and NSS-9 on the upcoming Ariane 5 launch are two small Spirale satellites, which are demonstrators for a French defense space-based optical early warning system.  These 120-kg.-class micro-satellites were built by Alcatel Space for Spirale program prime contractor EADS Astrium, which also has integration responsibility for the spacecraft.

Arianespace is targeting a total of six to eight Ariane 5 missions in 2009, continuing a sustained flight rate as the company responds to the space lift needs of its international customer base.