Ariane Flight 164 – XTAR-EUR “steps up” for launch

The XTAR-EUR primary payload for Flight 164 is now ready for its integration atop the Ariane 5 ECA heavy-lift launcher following several busy days of activity at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

On January 31, the telecommunications satellite made its first contact with launcher hardware when XTAR-EUR was installed atop a cone-shaped adapter that serves as the interface between the spacecraft and the Ariane 5 payload “stack.” This activity took place in the large S5 payload preparation facility at the Spaceport. The same day, XTAR-EUR was transferred from the S5 facility to the launcher Final Assembly Building, where it was installed atop the SYLDA multi-payload deployment system on February 1.

Our photo report below details the mating of XTAR-EUR to the SYLDA.

Photo Report: http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/mission_up_203.html