Latest Mission updates

Ariane 5 July 29, 2019

Preparations for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission enter the payload integration phase

The upper payload component – containing Intelsat 39 mounted on the SYLDA dispenser system, both of which are enclosed in an ogive-shaped fairing – is ready for installation atop Ariane 5.

Payload integration is underway for Arianespace’s third Ariane 5 mission of 2019, which will orbit telecommunications satellites at the service of long-time customers: Intelsat 39, for global operator Intelsat; and EDRS-C, based on a public-private partnership between Airbus and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Recent activity at the Spaceport included initial steps in creating the dual-payload configuration, with Intelsat 39 riding in the upper position. This involved installing the relay platform atop Ariane 5’s SYLDA dispenser system inside the launcher’s Final Assembly Building.

Intelsat 39 – which was produced by Maxar Technologies – was then encapsulated by Ariane 5’s protective fairing, completing the payload configuration’s upper portion and readying it for positioning over EDRS-C once this spacecraft is installed atop the launcher.

Following Ariane 5’s liftoff during the afternoon hours of August 6, Intelsat 39 will be released first into geostationary transfer orbit, to be followed by the separation of SYLDA – enabling EDRS-C’s subsequent deployment to geostationary transfer orbit.

Intelsat 39 (left) and EDRS-C (right) are fueled during previous activity inside the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility.

  • See the Arianespace advancer press release for additional information on Flight VA249.
  • Larger versions of the photos above are available in the Gallery.

Launch window for Flight VA249:

Washington, D.C.  French Guiana UTC Paris
From 3:30 p.m.
to 5:51 p.m.
From 4:30 p.m.
to 6:51 p.m.
From 19:30
to 21:51
From 9:30 p.m.
to 11:51 p.m.

More details are available in the VA249 launch kit:

Ariane Flight VA249
PDF / 5 MB

ArianeGroup website: https://www.ariane.group/en/

Intelsat website: www.intelsat.com

Maxar Technologies website: https://www.maxar.com

Airbus website, space activities: https://www.airbus.com/space.html

The European Space Agency website: www.esa.int/ESA

Ariane 5 June 20, 2019

Enhancing telecom: Arianespace’s Ariane 5 delivers T-16 and EUTELSAT 7C to geostationary transfer orbit

Read more