ESA: Ariane 5’s third launch of 2011

On 20 May 2011, an Ariane 5 launcher lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place two telecommunications satellites, GSAT-8 and ST-2, into their planned transfer orbits. Flight VA202 was the third Ariane 5 launch of 2011.

Liftoff of the 58th Ariane 5 mission came at 22:38 CEST (20:38 GMT; 17:38 French Guiana).

Credits: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Photo Optique vidéo du CSG - S. Martin

ESA Ariane 5: New Dawn Arrives At Spaceport

The second payload for Arianespace's next Ariane 5 mission arrived this week at the Spaceport in French Guiana as preparations continue for the heavy-lift flight planned on March 29.

Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, the Intelsat New Dawn communications relay platform is to provide voice, wireless backhaul, Internet and media applications services for the joint venture of Intelsat and a South African investor group led by Convergence Partners.

Intelsat New Dawn will have a liftoff mass of approximately 3,000 kg., and will be operated and marketed as part of the global Intelsat fleet. It carries 16 Ku-band and 14 C-band transponders, and will operate from an orbital position of 32.9 deg. East Longitude to cover the Middle East, part of Europe, Africa and sub-Saharan regions.

The satellite will be orbited along with its co-passenger, Yahsat 1A, on another of Ariane 5's dual-payload missions.

Arianespace launch 195 – Arabsat-5A and COMS: Liftoff is set for Saturday, June 26, 2010

Arianespace - Press Release - Arianespace launch 195 – Arabsat-5A and COMS

Kourou, June 26, 2010

In the two synchronized sequences performed during the launch countdown on Thursday, June 24, an atypical pressure value was observed in the pressurization system of Ariane 5’s cryogenic main stage.

After precise analysis of this phenomenon, and complementary checks were carried out, Arianespace has decided to resume final countdown operations for Flight 195 with the Arabsat-5A and COMS satellite payloads.