The final go-ahead is given for Ariane Flight 130
September 12: The final go-ahead is given for Flight 130
The third commercial launch of Europe’s new Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher is on schedule for a nighttime liftoff September 14.
Go-ahead for the final countdown was given today following the mission’s launch readiness review, which evaluated the status of all aspects of the flight – including the launch vehicle, its two payloads and the ELA-3 launch complex.
The last major milestone before liftoff is planned for tomorrow, when the completed Ariane 5 is transferred from the ELA-3 final assembly building to the launch zone. Ariane 5 will be moved on in its massive mobile launch table, and is to roll on a dual track rail system.
Flight 130 will be Arianespace’s seventh mission of 2000, and continues the rapid-paced launch schedule that is to be maintained through the remainder of the year. The previous flights in 2000 used five Ariane 4s and one Ariane 5.
The dual payload for Flight 130 weighs a total of approximately 6,000 kg. Of this total, about 5,300 kg. represents the combined mass of the two satellites, while the other weight is for the dual satellite deployment system, the mounting adapters and other associated hardware.
For this mission, the SociÈtÈ EuropÈenne des Satellites Astra 2B satellite is riding in the Ariane 5’s upper payload position, while the GE Americom GE-7 spacecraft is in the lower position – housed in the Sylda 5 dual satellite payload unit.