E’ programmato per stasera un nuovo lancio del vettore Europeo Ariane 5 da Kourou dopo il rinvio della settimana scorsa dovuto a problemi con il lanciatore.
La partenza è programmata fra le 23:06 e 0:00 di questa sera, ora italiana.
Il payload è composto da due satelliti per telecomunicazioni con orbita prevista geostazionaria.
Il primo, Skynet 5B è un satellite per telecomunicazioni militari del British Ministry of Defence (MoD), costruito da Astrium, su carrozza E3000 con un peso di 4,7ton.
Ariane aveva già lanciato Skynet 5A, 4B, 4C, 4E e 4F.
Mentre il secondo, STAR ONE C1 è un satellite per telecomunicazioni, commerciale, della compagnia brasiliana Star One, il primo di due ordinati, costruito da Thales Alenia Space su carrozza Spacebus 3000/B3, con peso di 4,1ton. Avrà a disposizione 28 trasponder in banda C, 14 in banda Ku e 1 in banda X. Fornirà servizi per telecomunicazioni a tutto il Sud America.
Nuovamente rimandato il lancio di minimo 24 ore per motivi ancora sconosciuti, verrà comunicata nelle prossime ore la nuova data di lancio
Cosi’ da Nsf.
Arianespace Flight Skynet 5B – Star One C1: Launch postponed
Arianespace has postponed tonight’s Ariane 5 lift-off following the detection of an anomaly during preparation for fueling of the launch vehicle.
A new launch date will be announced shortly.
Fonte: http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/news_sub_missionupdate_index.html
Lancio previsto per questa notte con finestra aperta dalle 23:06 ora italiana per 54min (le stessa dell’altra volta).
Lanciato!
Dopo 2 minuti: velocità 2 km/s e separazione a 2.30 minuti
A 3 minuti dal lancio 100 km di quota
A 3.30 minuti fairing separation e 130 km di quota.
A 5 minuti dal lancio, 3 km/s di velocità e 155 km di quota.
A 7 minuti , velocità di 4.5 km/s e 170 km di quota.
Separazione di entrambi i satelliti e missione conclusa 
Grazie della cronoca AJ!
Ultimo comunicato di Arianespace:
Ariane 5 achieved another heavy-lift record tonight, successfully placing a U.K. military relay platform and Brazil’s new multi-mission telecommunications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit.
The mission’s total payload delivery weight was 9,535 kg., which included 8,735 kg. for the two satellites, along with the associated installation/interface hardware and Ariane’s SYLDA 5 dual payload dispenser system.
Ariane 5 lifted off right on schedule at 7:06 p.m. local time in French Guiana, and climbed through a deck of broken low clouds over the Spaceport. Tracking cameras followed the trajectory as the launcher came back into view, clearly showing the jettisoning of Ariane 5’s two solid rocket boosters at an altitude of 65.5 km.
Skynet 5B was deployed by the launcher approximately 27 minutes into the mission, and Star One C1 was released about six minutes later.
This flight was another demonstration of Arianespace’s flexibility to accommodate a variety of satellites on its family of launchers, as well as to support the mission needs of key customers. It also continued the company’s launch rate acceleration, marking the fifth Ariane 5 dual-satellite success of 2007 – and clearing the way for a record sixth flight in December.
“Since the beginning of 2007, 12 large commercial communications satellites have been launched [worldwide], and we launched 10 of them – 83 percent of the total, which also is a record,” Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said.
Tonight’s mission came just eight months after Ariane 5 lofted Skynet 5A for the British Ministry of Defence, and Le Gall noted as well that Star One C1 continues a more than 20-year relationship with Brazil, pointing out that all seven satellites in the Star One fleet have orbited by Arianespace.
Skynet 5B was the 28th national security satellite lofted by Arianespace, and the 6th platform in the Skynet series orbited aboard Ariane. This 4,635-kg. spacecraft was built by Astrium, and will be delivered in orbit to Paradigm Secure Communications. When operational, it will handle secure communications services for the United Kingdom’s armed forces, NATO and other countries. Arianespace’s order backlog includes another Skynet-series spacecraft to be launched, Skynet 5C.
The 4,100 kg. Star One C1 passenger on tonight’s Ariane 5 mission was launched by Arianespace for satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space. Equipped with C-, Ku- and X-band transponders, it will be utilized by the Star One subsidiary of Embratel to provide communications, multimedia and broadband Internet services for the Latin American market. Another spacecraft, Star One C2, also is to be orbited by Arianespace.
“I would like to say to the British Ministry of Defense in London, to Astrium and to Paradigm that you chose the best offer on the market…and you were right! Congratulations, and thank you,” Le Gall added. “With Star One, Embratel is now one of the major operators of space telecommunications in the world, and we are proud to be part of this success.”
Le Gall provided details on Aranespace’s two remaining missions in 2007: a December 14 Soyuz launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome for its Starsem affiliate, which will carry the Radarsat 2 satellite; followed several days later by the year-ending Ariane 5 flight with its Rascom 1 and Horizons-2 payloads.
The December Ariane 5 mission will mark the first time six launches of this workhorse vehicle have been performed in one year. Arianespace is accelerating the pace to accommodate its growing order book, with a stabilized rate of eight Ariane 5 launches annually to be reached by 2009.
Fonte: Arianespace
Canadian Space Agency
December 14, 2007
Successful launch of RADARSAT-2
Longueuil, Quebec – RADARSAT-2 lit up the night sky as it was launched
successfully into space aboard a Soyuz rocket at 19:17 local time [1317 UTC]
from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Canada’s next-generation
commercial radar satellite offers powerful technical advancements that will
enhance marine surveillance, ice monitoring, disaster management,
environmental monitoring, resource management and mapping in Canada and
around the world.
Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, on behalf
of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister
responsible for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), emphasized that this new
satellite represents powerful state-of-the-art technology that will enhance
Canada’s ability to protect Canadian sovereignty in the Far North, in
keeping with the Arctic strategy outlined in the Speech from the Throne.
“This satellite will help us vigorously protect our Arctic sovereignty as
international interest in the region increases,” said Colin Carrie. “It will
also ensure the continuity of data services for government departments and a
growing number of commercial clients in more than 60 countries worldwide.”
RADARSAT-2 is the product of a unique public-private sector partnership.
This partnership is leveraging Canada’s renowned leadership in the
development, operation and marketing of advanced and highly specialized
remote-sensing technologies and applications.
About the Canadian Space Agency
Established in 1989, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) coordinates all civil,
space-related policies and programs on behalf of the Government of Canada.
CSA directs its resources and activities through four key thrusts: Earth
Observation, Space Science and Exploration, Satellite Communications, and
Space Awareness and Learning. By leveraging international cooperation, the
CSA generates world-class scientific research and industrial development for
the benefit of humanity.
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For more information on the Radarsat-2 mission:
http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/satellites/radarsat2/default.asp
For information:
Media Relations
Canadian Space Agency
Telephone: 450-926-4370