See also:

Third Ariane 5 Mission of 2007




May 25, 2007

Arianespace maintains its 2007 mission pace: a new Ariane 5 takes shape at the Spaceport

Another Ariane 5 has started the assembly process at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana as Arianespace moves ahead with plans to conduct a total of six missions during 2007 with the workhorse launch vehicle.

To meet the goal of performing its next two flights in an interval of less than one month, the vehicle now taking shape in the Launcher Integration Building is an Ariane 5 GS version, which is to orbit the Intelsat-11 and Horizons-2 satellites on a mission targeted for mid-September.



This vehicle will go through its basic build-up process, which includes the positioning of its core cryogenic stage (shown in the photo at left), mating of the two large solid rocket boosters, followed by installation of the upper stage and vehicle equipment bay.

When these steps are completed, the Ariane 5 GS will be transferred to the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building, freeing up the Launcher Integration Building for preparation of an Ariane 5 ECA. The heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA is to be used for a mission scheduled in mid-August, which will orbit the SPACEWAY 3 and BSAT-3A satellites.

Once the Ariane 5 ECA's basic assembly is complete, a swap-out will occur at the Spaceport. The Ariane 5 ECA will move over to the Final Assembly Building for installation of its dual-satellite payload, while the Ariane 5 GS returns to the Launcher Integration Building, ready for final processing.

The operational resources available for Arianespace – including the extensive ground infrastructure at Europe's Spaceport and its two mobile launch tables for Ariane 5 – provide the flexibility to perform two launch campaigns in parallel to meet the mission needs of its customers.

Arianespace has conducted two Ariane 5 ECA heavy-lift flights so far in 2007, starting off the year's activity with a March 11 launch that orbited the Skynet 5A and INSAT 4B satellites. This was followed by the May 4 launch that also carried a dual-passenger payload, successfully lofting ASTRA 1L and Galaxy 17 on a flight that carried a total mass of just over 9,400 kg. – setting a record for a mission to geostationary transfer orbit

Arianespace is in the process of accelerating its Ariane 5 launch rate to meet customer demand, building to a stabilized pace of eight Ariane 5 missions annually by 2009.

Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

June 1, 2007

Initial build-up of the Ariane 5 GS is complete at Europe's Spaceport

An Ariane 5 GS launch vehicle has completed its initial assembly at Europe's Spaceport as preparations move ahead for two Arianespace missions that are scheduled in an interval of less than one month during August and September.


The EPS upper stage is readied for
installation on the Ariane 5 GS.

The Ariane 5 GS has now been equipped with its vehicle equipment bay and the storable propellant EPS upper stage, which followed last week's mating of its two solid boosters with the core cryogenic stage. The activity took place inside the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building, with this Ariane 5 to be utilized for a mid-September flight to orbit the Intelsat-11 and Horizons-2 satellites.

With its basic build-up complete, the vehicle will be transferred to the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building, freeing up the Launcher Integration Building for preparation of an Ariane 5 ECA. The heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA will be used for a mission scheduled in mid-August, which will orbit the SPACEWAY 3 and BSAT-3A satellites.

Once the Ariane 5 ECA's basic assembly is complete, a swap-out will occur – with the Ariane 5 ECA moving over to the Final Assembly Building for installation of its dual-satellite payload, while the Ariane 5 GS returns to the Launcher Integration Building, ready for final processing.

Arianespace has the capability to adapt its launch pace to meet customers' mission needs, as well as make adjustments for variations in the delivery schedules of their satellites. Operational resources available for Arianespace at the Spaceport include an extensive ground infrastructure and two Ariane 5 mobile launch tables, which is backed up by the production capacity of Ariane's industrial team in Europe.

Two heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA flights already have been performed from the Spaceport in 2007, successfully orbiting four telecommunications satellites (Skynet 5A, INSAT 4B, ASTRA 1L and Galaxy 17) in March and May. Arianespace's Starsem affiliate conducted its first mission of the year on May 30, when a Soyuz vehicle was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome with four spacecraft to augment the Globalstar satellite constellation.

Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

August 30, 2007

Two "sister" payloads for Ariane 5’s next mission are now at the Spaceport

A pair of highly similar satellites to be launched on Arianespace’s upcoming Ariane 5 mission have been delivered to the Spaceport in French Guiana and are now undergoing their initial checkout.

A charted Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner flew the Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 spacecraft into Cayenne’s Rochambeau International Airport, providing an unusual double payload arrival.

Both satellites were manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation at its Dulles, Virginia facility, and they are based on the U.S. company’s STAR™ spacecraft bus – which has become a popular choice among international telecommunications operators for small-sized geostationary relay platforms.

Optus D2 is to be operated by Australian-based Optus, enabling the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services and services bundling. This is the second satellite in Optus' D-series fleet – the first of which was orbited by an Ariane 5 in October 2006.

With a liftoff mass of approximately 2,375 kg., the Optus D2 platform will generate 3.8 kilowatts of payload power to service its 24 active transponders. The satellite is to be positioned at 152 deg. E, and has a mission design lifetime of 15 years.

Intelsat 11 will weigh approximately 2,500 kg. at liftoff, and carries 34 transponders for direct-to-home broadcasting and data networking services to Latin America. This payload was booked on Ariane 5 in a contract announced last April, and is to be positioned at an orbital slot of 43 deg. West. Intelsat 11 has a 15-year mission design lifetime, and will carry a fuel load sufficient for 16 years of operation.

The Ariane 5 mission with Optus D2 and Intelsat 11 is scheduled for the end of September. This flight will use an Ariane 5 GS version, and will be the fourth of six planned launches of Arianespace’s workhorse launch vehicle in 2007.

In photo at left, Intelsat 11 has been positioned on its work dolly as the spacecraft’s pre-launch checkout begins. Its similarities are evident
with Optus D2, which is shown in the photo at right. Both satellites are currently in the S1B payload preparation building at Europe’s Spaceport.


Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

September 7, 2007

Ariane 5 is ready for the integration of its Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 payloads

Arianespace has taken delivery of the Ariane 5 launcher for its upcoming dual-payload mission, which will orbit the Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 satellite payloads from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.


The Ariane 5 GS is transferred to its Final Assembly
Building at the Spaceport. Partly visible at lower right
is the launch site operations center for Arianespace.

The Ariane 5 GS vehicle was transferred this week from the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building – where it was assembled under the management of prime contractor Astrium Space Transportation, to the Final Assembly Building – where Arianespace will oversee installation of the two satellites.

Liftoff of the mission is set for the end of September, and the flight will be Arianespace’s fourth with the workhorse Ariane 5 in 2007.

Both satellites for the upcoming Ariane 5 flight were built in the U.S. by Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, Virginia.

Australian-based Optus will operate Optus D2 for the development of new business opportunities in the direct-to-home market, as well as offering new data services and services bundling. This second satellite in Optus' D-series fleet follows Optus D1, which was orbited by an Ariane 5 in October 2006.

Optus D2 will have a liftoff mass of approximately 2,350 kg. Its STAR™ satellite bus will provide 3.8 kilowatts of payload power to service the 24 active transponders. To be positioned at 152 deg. East, Optus D1 has a mission design lifetime of 15 years.

Intelsat 11 also uses the STAR satellite bus, and is to weigh about 2,500 kg. at liftoff. It carries 34 transponders for direct-to-home broadcasting and data networking services for Intelsat to Latin America. Intelsat 11 will be located at an orbital slot of 43 deg. West and carries a fuel load sufficient for 16 years of operation.

Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

September 10, 2007

Intelsat 11 is fueled at Europe's Spaceport for Arianespace's late September Ariane 5 mission

The Intelsat 11 telecommunications satellite has been fueled at the Spaceport in French Guiana as payload preparations continue apace for Arianespace's upcoming dual-passenger Ariane 5 mission.



Intelsat 11 was "topped off" in the S5A high-bay of the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation building. This Orbital Sciences Corporation-built satellite has a liquid bi-propellant transfer orbit system and a hydrazine monopropellant on-orbit system.

Intelsat 11 will be launched at the end of September by an Ariane 5 GS vehicle, with another Orbital Sciences Corporation-manufactured spacecraft – Optus D2 – as its co-passenger.

Once in orbit, Intelsat 11 will provide direct-to-home broadcasting and data networking services for Intelsat. Its C-band payload will serve the continental United States, Mexico and South America, and a Ku-band payload will service the DirecTV Latin America downlink coverage area of Brazil. The Ku-band payload also will have uplink capability from the continental United States, Mexico, Europe, and Northwest and Southeast South America.

The Ariane 5 mission later this month will be Arianespace's fourth in 2007 with the workhorse launcher. A total of six flights are targeted this year as Arianespace builds up the Ariane 5 launch pace.

Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

September 17, 2007

Optus D2 is ready for integration on the Ariane 5 GS launch vehicle

The second satellite for Arianespace’s upcoming dual-passenger mission has completed its fueling at Europe’s Spaceport and is now ready for integration on the Ariane 5 GS launcher.

Optus D2 was “topped off” in the S5B hall – which is one of three primary clean room zones within the state-of-the-art S5 satellite preparation facility at the Spaceport.


Optus D2 is fueled in the S5B hall of the S5
satellite preparation facility.

As with its Intelsat 11 satellite co-passenger on this mission, Optus D2 is based on the Orbital Sciences Corporation’s STAR spacecraft bus. Both are equipped with a liquid bi-propellant transfer orbit system and a monopropellant (hydrazine) on-orbit system.

Optus D2 will be operated by Australian-based Optus, enabling the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services and services bundling. It will have launch mass of 2,350 kg. and an operational life of 15-plus years from an orbital position of 152 deg. East.

This is the second satellite in Optus' D-series fleet – the first of which was orbited by an Ariane 5 in October 2006.

Liftoff of the Ariane 5 GS with Optus D2 and Intelsat 11 is set for October 2 in an evening launch window. It will be the fourth of six Ariane 5 flights planned by Arianespace in 2007 – continuing the sustained mission rate to meet the company’s growing commercial order book.

Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

September 18, 2007

Ariane 5’s upper payload “stack” is assembled at the Spaceport

The initial phase of payload integration for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission has been completed, with the upper payload “stack” now prepared for installation on the launch vehicle at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Intelsat 11, which will be riding as the flight’s upper passenger, was placed on the SYLDA 5 payload dispenser system, over which the Ariane 5’s ogive-shaped protective fairing was installed today.

The upper payload “stack” is ready for positioning over the mission’s other payload – Optus D2 – which is to be installed atop the Ariane 5’s central core stage.

Ariane 5’s ability to orbit two satellites on a single mission is one of the keys to flexibility in Arianespace’s Service & Solutions commercial offer, which enables the company to respond to its customers’ requirements.

For this flight, Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 are highly similar satellites, with both built by Orbital Sciences Corporation using its STAR 2 spacecraft bus.

Intelsat 11 will weigh about 2,500 kg. at launch and is to host Latin America's premiere video programmers and the region's largest DTH (direct-to-home) platform. It carries a hybrid payload composed of 16 C-band and 18 Ku-band transponders.

Optus D2 will have launch mass of 2,350 kg. and is to be operated by Australian-based Optus – enabling the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services and services bundling. Positioned at an orbital slot of 152 deg. East, it will have an operational life of 15-plus years.

The upcoming mission with Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 will use an Ariane 5 GS version of Arianespace’s workhorse launcher, and will be the fourth of six Ariane 5 flights targeted for 2007. Liftoff of the Ariane 5 GS is set during an evening launch window on October 2.



(In the photo above, which was taken inside the Ariane 5 Final Assembly Building, the payload fairing is ready to be lowered into place over Intelsat 11 – which is visible atop the SYLDA 5 dispenser).

Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

September 20, 2007

Ariane 5's assembly is completed with the integration of Optus D2 and Intelsat 11 on the launch vehicle

The Ariane 5 GS launcher for Arianespace's fourth flight of 2007 completed its build-up today with the installation of Intelsat 11 as its upper payload.



During activity inside the Final Assembly Building at Europe's Spaceport, the upper payload "stack" was placed atop its Ariane 5. This positioned the Intelsat 11 satellite - along with its protective payload fairing and the Sylda 5 dispenser system - over the Optus D2 spacecraft, which was installed earlier on Ariane 5's central core stage.

The flight plan for Arianespace's October 2 launch calls for the dual satellite payload to be deployed in a multi-step process during the 32-minute mission. Separation of Ariane 5's payload fairing will occur approximately 3 minutes after liftoff, followed 24 minutes later by Intelsat 11's deployment.

The canister-shaped Sylda 5 dispenser will then be released, exposing Optus D2 for its release approximately 32 minutes into the mission.

This 178th flight of an Ariane launcher will carry a total payload weight of approximately 5,850 kg, which includes 4,830 kg. for the two satellites, plus the associated satellite installation hardware, and the SYLDA 5 deployment system.

Intelsat 11 is to host Latin America's premiere video programmers and the region's largest DTH (direct-to-home) platform. It carries a hybrid payload composed of 16 C-band and 18 Ku-band transponders for the Washington, D.C.-headquartered Intelsat.

Optus D2 is to be operated by Australian-based Optus - enabling the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services and services bundling. Positioned at an orbital slot of 152 deg. East, it will have an operational life of 15-plus years.

Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

September 25, 2007

Arianespace Flight INTELSAT 11 – OPTUS D2: Launch postponed by a few days.


At the request of one of the customers who wishes to carry out some additional checks on his satellite, Arianespace has decided to postpone by a few days the launch, initially scheduled on Tuesday, October 2nd.

A new launch date will be announced shortly.

Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

October 3, 2007

Ariane 5's liftoff with Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 is confirmed for October 5


Arianespace's fourth mission of 2007 is set for Friday, October 5, with the green light given today after the launch readiness review at Europe's Spaceport.

This review, which is held before every Ariane flight, verifies the readiness of the Ariane 5 vehicle, its two payloads, the launch infrastructure at the Spaceport in French Guiana, and the downrange network of tracking stations.



The upcoming mission will orbit two medium-sized satellites built by the same U.S. manufacturer, Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corporation, for Intelsat and Optus.

The Intelsat 11 spacecraft is riding in Ariane 5's upper payload position, and is to be released first in the mission sequence. To be operated by Washington, D.C.-headquartered Intelsat, the satellite will host Latin America's premiere video programmers and the region's largest DTH (direct-to-home) platform. Intelsat 11 is based on the Orbital Sciences STAR 2 spacecraft bus, and carries a hybrid payload composed of 16 C-band and 18 Ku-band transponders. The satellite weighs approximately 2,500 kg. at launch.

Optus D2 also uses an Orbital Sciences STAR 2 bus, and is to be operated by Australian-based Optus to enable the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services and services bundling. Positioned at an orbital slot of 152 deg. East, the 2,350-kg. Optus D2 will have an operational life of 15-plus years.



Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

October 4, 2007

Arianespace is ready for its fourth Ariane 5 mission of 2007


The 178th Ariane launcher rolled out to its pad today, clearing the way for tomorrow evening's liftoff with a dual-satellite payload from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

Emerging from the Final Assembly Building at 10:30 a.m. under sunny skies, the Ariane 5 GS completed the 2.8-kilometer transfer in one hour.


Ariane 5 arrives at the ELA-3 launch zone, where it will
lift off tomorrow evening with Intelsat 11 and Optus D2.

For this fourth Arianespace mission of 2007, both passengers carried by the launcher are built by the same U.S. manufacturer – Orbital Sciences Corporation.

The upper Ariane 5 payload for this mission is Intelsat 11, which will host Latin America's premiere video programmers and the region's largest DTH (direct-to-home) platform.

With a liftoff weight of approximately 2,500 kg., Intelsat 11 carries a hybrid payload composed of 16 C-band and 18 Ku-band transponders. The satellite will be deployed at approximately 28 minutes into the Ariane 5's flight, and subsequently will be located at an orbital position of 43 deg. West.

Ariane 5 will release Optus D2 at 32 minutes after liftoff, and the spacecraft ultimately will be positioned at 152 deg. East. This 2,350-kg. platform will be operated by Australian-based Optus to enable the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services as well as services bundling.

Arianespace is planning a total of six Ariane 5 missions for 2007. It is in the process of accelerating the Ariane 5 launch rate to meet customer demand, building to a stabilized pace of eight Ariane 5 missions per year by 2009.



Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

October 5, 2007

Ariane 5 soars to success with Intelsat 11 and Optus D2


Arianespace's workhorse Ariane 5 scored its fourth dual-payload launch success of 2007, orbiting the Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 payloads during a mission performed from the Spaceport in French Guiana this evening.

The 178th launcher in the Ariane series delivered its two smaller-sized spacecraft during 32 minutes of flight. Both payloads were built by U.S. manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation at its Dulles, Virginia, plant using the company's STAR 2 platform.

Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall noted the launch occurred just six months after the Intelsat 11's launch contract was signed with Washington, D.C.-based Intelsat.

"This clearly demonstrates the flexibility of our Service & Solutions offer," Le Gall said. "Furthermore, tonight's launch brings to 20 the number of successes in a row for Ariane 5, once again establishing Arianespace as the world reference for this industry.

Intelsat 11 rode as the upper Ariane 5 payload for this mission, and was released about 28 minutes after liftoff. Once the satellite arrives at the final orbital position of 43 deg. West, it will host Latin America's premiere video programmers and the region's largest DTH (direct-to-home) platform.

Weighing approximately 2,500 kg. at liftoff, Intelsat 11 carries a hybrid payload composed of C-band and Ku-band transponders.

Ariane 5 deployed Optus D2 at 32 minutes after liftoff, and this spacecraft ultimately will be positioned at 152 deg. East. This 2,350-kg. platform will join the fleet of Australian-based telecommunications provider Optus, enabling the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services as well as services bundling.

Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

October 5, 2007

Ariane 5 soars to success with Intelsat 11 and Optus D2

Arianespace's workhorse Ariane 5 scored its fourth dual-payload launch success of 2007, orbiting the Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 payloads during a highly accurate mission performed this evening from the Spaceport in French Guiana.


The Ariane 5 GS vehicle is shown prior
to liftoff from the ELA-3 launch complex.

The 178th launcher in the Ariane series delivered its two medium-sized spacecraft during 32 minutes of flight. Both payloads were built by U.S. manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation at its Dulles, Virginia, plant using the company's STAR 2 platform.

Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall noted the launch occurred just six months after the Intelsat 11's launch contract was inked with Washington, D.C.-based Intelsat.

"This clearly demonstrates the flexibility of our Service & Solutions offer," Le Gall said in post-mission comments at the Spaceport's Jupiter control center. "Furthermore, tonight's launch brings to 20 the number of successes in a row for Ariane 5, once again establishing Arianespace as the world reference for this industry


Intelsat 11 rode as the Ariane 5 GS vehicle's upper payload for this mission, and was released about 28 minutes after liftoff. Once the satellite arrives at the final orbital position of 43 deg. West, it will host Latin America's premiere video programmers and the region's largest DTH (direct-to-home) platform. Weighing approximately 2,450 kg. at liftoff, Intelsat 11 carries a hybrid payload composed of C-band and Ku-band transponders.

Ariane 5 deployed Optus D2 at 32 minutes after liftoff, and this spacecraft ultimately will be positioned at 152 deg. East. The 2,350-kg. platform will join the fleet of Australian telecommunications provider Optus, enabling the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services, as well as services bundling.


The cryogenic upper stage and equipment bay for the next
Ariane 5 to be launched is readied for integration on the
heavy-lift vehicle. Liftoff of this Ariane 5 ECA is set for
November 9.

Le Gall thanked both customers on today's mission for their confidence in Arianespace. He referred to the long-time partnership with Intelsat, adding that Intelsat 11 represents a record 47th satellite launched by Arianespace since 1983 for this communications provider.

Kenneth Lee, the Intelsat Vice President of Space Systems Management and Planning, expressed his gratitude for another on-target Ariane 5 mission. "This is reason that we keep coming back for more," Lee said. "Once again, you have demonstrated flexibility, while meeting all of the things that we need – delivering 100 percent."

Tonight's mission with Optus D2 was Arianespace's fourth for the Australian customer, following its launch of Optus D1 last year, a 2003 mission with Optus & Defense C1, and Aussat K3 in 1987. The orbiting of another spacecraft, Optus D3 is planned in 2009.


Following this latest success, Arianespace continues to hold the largest order book in the launch services industry – representing a three-year workload. "In fact, after this launch, we have in front of us 27 GTO satellites to launch from French Guiana, plus 11 Ariane 5 institutional launches, and 10 Soyuz launches," Le Gall said.

Arianespace is maintaining its busy launch pace, as two additional Ariane 5 missions are planned before the end of 2007. The next flight is set for November 9th, using a heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA to orbit the United Kingdom's Skynet 5B military communications satellite and Brazil's STAR ONE C1 telecom platform for direct television, telecommunications and Internet services.

The Ariane 5 vehicle for the November mission is well advanced in its assembly and integration process, benefitting from Arianespace's ability to process two of the workhorse launch vehicles in parallel at Europe's Spaceport.

Prior to the Ariane 5's November 9th mission, Arianespace's Starsem affiliate will use a Soyuz vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to orbit four Globalstar constellation satellites on October 21.

Source: Arianespace Mission Updates

Arianespace Press Release


Kourou, French Guiana, October 5, 2007

Arianespace boosts Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 into orbit

On Friday evening, October 5, Arianespace successfully orbited two communications satellites: Intelsat 11 for the international operator Intelsat, and Optus D2 for the Australian operator Optus. Both satellites were built by Orbital Sciences Corporation.

34th Ariane 5 launch, 20th success in a row

The latest successful launch of an Ariane 5, the fourth in 2007, confirms that Arianespace offers the launch Service & Solutions best matched to operator requirements.

Ariane 5 is the only commercial launcher in service today capable of simultaneously launching two payloads. The Ariane 5 launcher gives Arianespace customers unrivaled performance, flexibility and competitiveness, and continues to set the global standard for launch services.

Two more Ariane 5 launches are scheduled by the end of the year.

Launches for leading operators

Arianespace’s selection by today’s leading satcom manufacturers and operators is clear international recognition of the company’s high-quality launch services.

Arianespace is particularly proud of its partnership with Intelsat. Since 1983, Arianespace has launched 47 satellites for this leading international operator. This is the second successful launch for Intelsat following last May’s launch of its Galaxy 17 satellite.

Optus D2 will be the fourth satellite launched by Arianespace for the Australian operator. It launched Optus D1 in October 2006, following Optus & Defence C1 in June 2003 and Aussat K3 in 1987. SingTel, the parent company of Optus, had already chosen Arianespace to launch its ST-1 satellite in 1998.

Record order book

Arianespace has signed 12 new Service & Solutions contracts for launches into geostationary transfer orbit this year, along with four contracts for low Earth orbit (LEO) launches, giving it, following this launch, a record backlog of orders:

• 27 satellites to be launched into geostationary transfer orbit, using Ariane 5 and possibly Soyuz for the smaller spacecraft.
• 11 government launches by Ariane 5, including nine for the ATV cargo vessel that will bring supplies to the International Space Station.
• 10 Soyuz launches (four from Baikonur, six from the Guiana Space Center).

Intelsat 11/Optus D2 mission at a glance

The mission was carried out by an Ariane 5 GS launcher from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Liftoff was on Friday, October 5, at 7:02 pm local time in Kourou (6:02 pm in Washington, DC, 22:02 UT, and on Saturday, October 6 at 00:02 am in Paris, and at 8:02 am in Sydney).

Provisional parameters at injection of the storable-propellant upper stage (EPS) were:

Perigee: 584.7 km for a target of 584.8 km (±4)
Apogee: 35,913 km for a target of 35,918 km (±240)
Inclination: 4.01 degrees for a target of 4.00 degrees (±0.06°)

The Intelsat 11 satellite was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation at its plant in Dulles, Virginia, using a Star 2 platform. Weighing about 2,500 kg at launch, the satellite is fitted with a hybrid payload comprising 34 high-power transponders, including 16 C-band and 18 Ku-band units. It offers 3.5 kW of electrical power. Positioned at 43 degrees West, Intelsat 11 will host Latin America’s première video programmers and the region’s largest DTH platform.

Optus D2 was also integrated by Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles using a Star 2 platform. Weighing about 2,350 kg at launch, it is fitted with 24 Ku-band transponders. Optus D2 will be positioned at 152 degrees East and has a design life of 15 years. It will provide direct TV broadcast, Internet, telephone and data transmission services for Australia and New Zealand.

Source: Arianespace Press Release

8 October 2007

Preparations for launch of Ariane V178. Ariane V 178 lifted off from Europe's Spaceport at 22:00 GMT (24:00 CEST) on the night of 5 October, carrying two telecommunications satellites - Intelsat 11 and Optus D2.

Credits: ©2007 - ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE/Photo Optique Video du CSG

On the evening of 5 October, an Ariane 5 GS launcher lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place two telecommunications satellites into geostationary transfer orbits.

Lift-off of flight V178 took place at 22:02 UTC (19:02 local time, 00:02 CEST). The satellites were accurately injected into the correct transfer orbits about 30 minutes later.

The payload comprised Intelsat 11, which will provide direct-to-home broadcasting and data networking services for Latin America, and Optus D2, which is a broadcasting and data communications satellite that will serve Australia and New Zealand The payload mass was 5857 kg; the satellite masses totalled 4832 kg, with payload adapters and dispensers making up the additional 1025 kg.

This fourth launch of the year keeps Arianespace and Europe’s Spaceport on target to perform six Ariane-5 launches in 2007 as they head towards their target of seven to eight missions per year from 2009.


Flight timeline

The Ariane 5’s cryogenic, liquid-fuelled, main engine was ignited first. Seven seconds later, the solid fuel rocket boosters were also fired, and a fraction of a second after that, the launch vehicle lifted off.

The solid boosters were jettisoned 2 min: 20 sec after main engine ignition, and the fairing protecting the payload during the climb through the Earth’s atmosphere was discarded at 3 min: 15 sec. The launcher’s main engine was shut down at 9 min: 37 sec; six seconds later the main cryogenic stage separated from the upper stage and its payload.

Seven seconds after main stage separation, the engine of the launcher’s storable propellant upper stage was ignited to continue the journey. The upper stage engine was shut down at 26min:33sec into the flight, at which point the launch vehicle was travelling at 8614 metres per second (just over 31 000 km/h) at an altitude of 1582.5 kilometres and the conditions for geostationary transfer orbit injection had been achieved.

At 27 min: 48 sec after main engine ignition, Intelsat 11 separated from the launcher, followed by Optus D2 at 32 min: 01 sec.

Source: ESA - News