Europe*Star “meets” its Ariane 4 launcher – Ariane 4 Mission Log: Mission Briefing for Flight 134

Flight 134’s Ariane 4 was completed this weekend when its Europe*Star 1 payload was installed atop the launch vehicle at Europe’s Spaceport.

Europe*Star 1 was carefully lowed into position Saturday morning October 21 on the Ariane 4 inside the service tower at the ELA-2 launch complex. The telecommunications satellite was enclosed in its payload fairing, which will protect the 4,170-kg. satellite during climbout through the atmosphere.

The mating marked one of the final milestones in this launch campaign, which will lead to liftoff of the Ariane 4 in the early morning hours of October 28.

Post-mating electrical tests were performed on the Europe*Star 1 satellite today, and the launch rehearsal will be conducted tomorrow. The rehearsal involves a simulated countdown will be performed to the point of first stage ignition.

Flight 134 will use an Ariane 44LP version of the Ariane 4 family, with two solid strap-on boosters and two liquid strap-ons augmenting the first stage’s thrust during liftoff and initial ascent.

The upcoming mission will be the 100th launch of an Ariane 4. The workhorse launch vehicle first flew in June 1988, and the missions that followed have established this launcher as an industry reference for reliability and flexibility.