Ariane-V130 mission update

Mission Update:
Flight 130
June 9: Storable Propellant Upper Stage
and Vehicle Equipment Bay Mated;
Astra Satellite Arrives in Kourou
 
 
The Ariane 5 launch vehicle for Flight 130 has rapidly taken shape following a busy week of activity inside the Launcher Integration Building at Europe’s Spaceport.
 
Following the June 5 integration of the main cryogenic stage with its two boosters, this week’s work focused on the mating of both the storable propellant upper stage and the vehicle equipment bay atop the Ariane 5.
 
The upper stage was raised into position first, followed by the vehicle equipment bay.
 
Ariane 5’s upper stage is powered by the Aestus re-ignitable engine, which is fed by N204 oxidizer and MMH fuel, which is fed from four pressurized tanks.
 
The vehicle equipment bay (VEB) – often called the launcher’s "brains" – groups the flight and attitude control systems, the power distribution unit, flight safety system and the separation/control unit.
 
Mission team members also began the process of installing thermal protection on the Ariane 5’s solid boosters.
 
This week also marked the arrival in French Guiana of the Astra satellite – which is earmarked as one of the Flight 130 satellite payloads – as well as Arianespace mission director Philippe Rolland.
 
In separate activity, initial elements for the next Ariane 5 mission arrived in French Guiana. The main cryogenic stage, storable propellant upper stage and vehicle equipment bay for the next heavy-lift launder flight were unloaded from Arianespace’s transport ship and moved by convoy by road to the Spaceport.
 
As a result, Arianespace will be ready to start the integration of its next Ariane 5 to meet the fast-paced mission schedule for the second half of 2000.