Status Report

Ariane-4, flight V-132 mission update, 24-08-2000

By SpaceRef Editor
August 24, 2000
Filed under

Mission Log:
Mission Update for Flight 132
Flight 132’s Ariane 4 arrives in the launch zone
 
 
August 24, 2000
 
 
Arianespace is continuing the rapid pace of its launch activity at Europe’s Spaceport, with the Ariane 4 for Flight 132 now in the ELA-2 launch zone.
 
The launcher moved on its mobile launch table along the approximately 1 kilometer of dual rail track that links the ELA-2’s Ariane 4 final assembly building with the launch site.
 
Flight 132’s payload, the Eutelsat W1 communications and multimedia spacecraft, is a EuroStar 2000+ satellite bus produced by Europe’s Astrium.
 
Launch mass of the satellite is set at approximately 3,250 kg. with its 28 Ku-band transponder payload, and the spacecraft is designed for an operational lifetime of more than 12 years.
 
When its solar panels are deployed in orbit, Eutelsat W1 will have an overall span of 31.7 meters.
 
Liftoff of Flight 132 is planned for September 6.
 
It will be the second launch in Arianespace’s accelerated mission schedule for the second half of 2000, and is to follow the successful Flight 131 on August 17 with the Brasilsat B4 and Nilesat 102 payloads.

SpaceRef staff editor.