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Mission Update

Final countdown underway for Ariane 5's mission with JCSAT-12 and Optus D3

The heavy-lift Ariane 5 with its JCSAT-12 and Optus D3 payloads is ready for liftoff from the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone in French Guiana.

August 21, 2009

Arianespace has begun the final countdown for its fourth Ariane 5 flight of 2009, with liftoff of this heavy-lift vehicle scheduled at the start of a one-hour launch window that opens tonight at 7:09 p.m. in French Guiana.

Pre-launch activity at the Spaceport includes electrical system checks, fueling of the main cryogenic stage and validation of weather conditions predicted during the launch window.

This latest flight in Arianespace’s busy 2009 mission schedule carries two payloads for key Asia-Pacific customers, with both satellites produced by U.S. manufacturers.

Riding as the upper passenger in Ariane 5’s payload “stack” is JCSAT-12, which will be deployed first during the 34-minute flight sequence.  Built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems in Newtown, Pennsylvania, the 4,000-kg. JCSAT-12 will be operated by Japan’s SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation.  It is to function as the successor to JCSAT-R – which currently is in geostationary orbit as a backup relay platform for SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation.  JCSAT-12 is based on Lockheed Martin’s A2100AX satellite bus, and the high-power spacecraft is equipped with 30 Ku-band transponders plus 12 C-band transponders.

Located in the lower position of the payload stack is Optus D3, which was manufactured by Dulles, Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corporation for the Optus telecommunications provider of Australia.  Based on Orbital’s STAR™ spacecraft bus, this 2,500-kg. relay platform is outfitted with 32 Ku-band transponders for fixed communications and direct television broadcasting services to Australia and New Zealand.

• Arianespace’s official launch kit has more details on this Ariane 5 mission.
• Watch the Ariane 5 launch live with Arianespace’s webcast.