BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Follow the launch of Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket carrying the SPAINSAT and Hot Bird 7A communications spacecraft. Reload this page for the latest on the mission.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2006
Arianespace has tentatively rescheduled the Ariane 5 launch for Friday. That plan, if approved, would be confirmed on Thursday.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006
1845 GMT (1:45 p.m. EST)
SCRUB! Today’s launch of two European communications satellites aboard an Ariane 5 rocket has been delayed.
“The discovery of an anomaly on a ground equipment used to prepare the launcher has resulted in Arianespace decision to postpone the launch,” the company announced in a statement.
A new launch date has not been established.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006
The more-powerful version of Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket will loft a pair of communications satellites today from the Arianespace launch base in South America. The launch window extends from 2213 to 2323 GMT (5:13-6:23 p.m. EST).
This will be the first Ariane 5 of 2006. It will employ the Vulcain 2 upgraded first stage main engine and the new ECA cryogenic upper stage.
The rocket is carrying the SPAINSAT communications spacecraft for the Spanish Ministry of Defense and Eutelsat’s Hot Bird 7A direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite.
The final countdown began this morning at the Launch-Minus 11 hour, 30 minute mark. That was followed by a check of electrical systems. Fueling of the first stage and new cryogenic upper stage with super-cold load of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen is set to commence in the final five hours before liftoff time.
The countdown will enter the synchronized launch sequence about seven minutes prior to launch. Next will be a fast-paced series of automated events transitioning the rocket and payload to internal power, pressurizing fuel tanks, and taking systems to flight mode. The Vulcain engine will come to life, followed by ignition of the solid rocket boosters and liftoff.
The twin boosters will burn for 2 minutes, 19 seconds, and the payload fairing will be released at Plus+3 minutes, 14 seconds. The cryogenic first stage will exhaust its propellant resources at Plus+8 minutes, 53 seconds, followed six seconds later by the jettisoning. After separation, the cryo upper stage will ignite to begin its 15.5-minute burn to finish the Ariane 5’s ascent, shutting down at Plus+24 minutes, 45 seconds.
SPAINSAT deployment is set for 27 minutes, 4 seconds into the mission. Hot Bird 7A will be released at Plus+32 minutes, 5 seconds.
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