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Ariane 5 June 24, 2011

Payload integration is underway at the Spaceport for Ariane 5’s next flight

In the photo above, Ariane 5’s payload fairing is lowered into place over ASTRA 1N inside the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building (at left), while BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is positioned for its installation on the launcher’s cryogenic stage (at center and right).

Both satellite passengers for Arianespace’s fourth heavy-lift mission of 2011 are well advanced in their integration phase as preparations move forward for the July 1 launch from French Guiana.

Following activity inside the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is now integrated on the workhorse launch vehicle. The spacecraft was positioned earlier this week, placing it as the lower passenger in the payload “stack.”

Ariane 5’s payload fairing is adorned with customer logos as preparations move ahead for the dual-passenger flight on July 1.

Ariane 5’s payload fairing is adorned with customer logos as preparations move ahead for the dual-passenger flight on July 1.

Marking another preparation milestone this week, the ASTRA 1N communications relay platform has been encapsulated in its payload fairing – completing the payload stack’s upper component. This step occurred inside the satellite staging area of Ariane 5’s Final Assembly Building, where the ogive-shaped fairing was lowered into place over the spacecraft and the SYLDA dispenser system.

The fairing is designed to protect ASTRA 1N – which will ride as the upper passenger on Ariane 5’s July 1 flight – during the heavy-lift launch vehicle’s climb-out through the atmosphere’s dense layers.

Ariane 5’s payload lift performance for the upcoming mission is more than 9,000 kg., which includes a combined mass of 8,240 kg. for its two satellite passengers, plus the launcher’s dual-payload dispenser system and satellite integration hardware.

The EADS Astrium-built ASTRA 1N is a state-of-the-art Ku-band spacecraft that will deliver pan-European direct-to-home broadcast services for satellite operator SES ASTRA. It initially will provide interim capacity from an orbital position of 28.2 deg. East following its deployment by Ariane 5, and subsequently will be moved to SES ASTRA’s prime location at 19.2 deg. East for primary and backup services.

BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is a hybrid broadcasting and telecommunications satellite manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems on behalf of B-SAT Corporation and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. Based on Lockheed Martin’s A2100A platform, it will be operated from an orbital position of 110 deg. East longitude.

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