Ariane Flight 161: A new Ariane 5 takes shape at the Spaceport

The launch campaign for Arianespace’s next mission began today as the Ariane
5 for Flight 161 started its build-up process in the Spaceport’s integration
building.

Major elements for the Ariane arrived in French Guiana yesterday aboard the
MN Colibri – one of two sea-going transport ships operated for Arianespace.
The launcher elements were then transferred by road to the Spaceport,
allowing the integration process to begin this morning.

Flight 161 will be another dual-satellite mission for Ariane 5, carrying the
Optus C1 spacecraft for Australia’s Optus, and BSAT-2c for the Broadcasting
Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) of Japan.

The large container with Ariane 5’s cryogenic main stage was unloaded from
the MN Colibri, which is docked at the Pariacabo port in Kourou. The MN
Colibri carried the main elements of Flight 161’s launch vehicle from Europe
to French Guiana. Liftoff of Flight 161 with its dual satellite payload is
scheduled for early June.

Ariane 5’s SYLDA 5 multiple payload deployment system left the MN Colibri on
its way to the Spaceport during the unloading process that took place
yesterday. Integration of SYLDA 5 with its two satellite payloads will be
part of the final steps in Flight 161’s launch campaign.

The cryogenic core central stage was rotated to a vertical position in
preparation for its positioning over the mobile launch table inside the
Spaceport’s Ariane 5 launcher integration building. The central stage will
be mated with Ariane 5’s two solid booster stages, followed by the
installation of the vehicle equipment bay and the EPS upper stage. Once
these steps are completed, the launcher is to be moved to the final assembly
building, where the mission’s two satellite payloads will be installed atop
the vehicle.