Mission Update
Ariane 5 rolls out for Arianespace's sixth launch of 2009
October 28, 2009
The Ariane 5 with its NSS-12 and THOR 6 payloads approaches the Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone during today's rollout. |
Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission of 2009 is ready for the final countdown following today’s rollout of the flight’s heavy-lift launch vehicle at the Spaceport in French Guiana.
The Ariane 5 was moved from its Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone during a 1 hr., 15 min. transfer process, which occurred under partly sunny skies.
This mission is now ready for an early evening liftoff during a 1 hr., 40 min. launch window that opens tomorrow at 5:00 p.m., local time at the Spaceport.
The flight will carry a new customer’s satellite, THOR 6 for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting AS, along with SES WORLD SKIES’ NSS-12 – which is the 32nd spacecraft from the SES group of companies that has been entrusted for an Ariane launch.
NSS-12 will be released first during tomorrow’s mission, and subsequently is to be operated by SES WORLD SKIES from a geostationary orbit of 57 degrees East. This relay platform, which weighs approximately 5,700 kg. for liftoff, is to provide direct-to-home television broadcast services for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.
THOR 6 is riding in the lower position of Ariane 5’s payload “stack,” and has a liftoff mass of about 3,000 kg. Positioned at an orbital slot of 1 degree West, the spacecraft will distribute direct-to-home services to the Nordic region and throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
Launch Window for the NSS-12 and THOR 6 mission |
|||||
Universal time (GMT) |
Paris, France |
Kourou, French Guiana |
Washington, D.C., USA |
||
Between 8:00 p.m. |
Between 9:00 p.m. |
Between 5:00 p.m. |
Between 4:00 p.m. |
||
- Watch the launch live with Arianespace’s real-time video broadcast.
- Arianespace’s official launch kit has more details on this Ariane 5 mission.
RSS
Français |
Terms and conditions of use |
Online privacy statement
© 2012 Arianespace
