Ariane-4 flight V-131 status report 14-08-2000
Mission Log:
Mission Update for Flight 131
August 14, 2000
Launch activity at the Spaceport in French Guiana is in full swing as two separate Ariane 4 campaigns move ahead in parallel.
Arianespace’s Flight 131 has entered its final countdown phase in the ELA-2 launch zone, while preparations for Flight 132 are moving ahead in ELA-2’s launcher preparation area.
Flight 131 is on schedule for a liftoff in the evening of August 17, while Flight 132 is targeted for launch on September 6.
Flight 131 – The final countdown begins
Jean-Marc Artaud, Arianespace’s mission manager for Flight 131, said the launch readiness review was completed today – authorizing the final countdown to begin. The launch readiness review involves a final validation of the mission-ready status for both the launcher and the satellite payload.
Artaud said two technical issues were resolved before the readiness review was completed. One involved the replacement of certain plastic ties that keep wires and lines bundled together, while the other cleared up a question over a signal received during a launcher ground test last week.
The Flight 131 launcher is the 97th Ariane 4 built by European industry, and the 24th in the Ariane 44LP configuration. The Ariane 44LP version uses a mix of two liquid strap-on boosters and two solid strap-ons to augment the first stage thrust at liftoff.
All is well with the two satellites for Flight 131, with the Brasilsat B4 and Nilesat 102 remaining on battery charge atop the Ariane 4 as they await their ride into orbit.
Tomorrow is the August 15 holiday for France, and the Flight 131 team will take a well-deserved day off before picking up the final pre-launch activity on Wednesday.