Arabsat 5A & COMS 1 (Ariane 5 launched on June 26, 2010)

[Zipi]

Launch window: 21:41-22:45 GMT (5:41-6:45 pm EDT)
Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana

Arianespace Flight 195 will use an Ariane 5 rocket with a cryogenic upper stage to launch the Arabsat 5A communications satellite to cover the Middle East and Africa and South Korea's COMS 1 satellite to monitor weather, observe oceans and test communications.

EADS Astrium Arabsat 5 tagged items: http://www.astrium.eads.net/en/tag/arabsat-5/
EADS Astrium COMS tagged items: http://www.astrium.eads.net/en/tag/coms/
Official Site to Check the Launch Window: http://www.cnes-csg.fr/web/CNES-CSG-fr/ ... n-vol-.php
Live Stream: http://www.videocorner.tv/

Ariane 5 Launch Animation: (not very professionally made)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtI50ndY2WE[/youtube]

Ariane Flight V195

Launcher version: Ariane 5 ECA
Payload(s): Arabsat-5A & COMS
Customer(s): Thales Alenia Space for Arabsat-5A & Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) for COMS
Mission: Telecommunications for Arabsat 5A & Meteorology, ocean monitoring and telecommunications for COMS
Payload prime contractor(s): EADS Astrium for Arabsat-5A and COMS

Ariane 5 ECA Launch Vehicle

Arianespace's Ariane 5 Page: http://www.arianespace.com/launch-servi ... -intro.asp
Ariane 5 Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_5
Ariane 5 ECA Cutout Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... _5_ECA.gif
Ariane 5 Launch vehicle's technology: http://www.le-webmag.com/article.php3?i ... 20&lang=en
ESA's Ariane 5 Detailed Information Page: http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia ... riane.html

The Main Cryogenic Stage

As the central element of Ariane 5, the core cryogenic stage serves as one of the launcher's key propulsion systems.

It carries a propellant load of 132.27 metric tons of liquid oxygen and 25.84 metric tons of liquid hydrogen to feed the stage's Vulcain main engine.

The Vulcain burns for just under 600 seconds, providing up to 116 metric tons of thrust in vacuum.

The stage has an overall length of 30.5 meters from the Vulcain main engine's nozzle to the forward (upper) skirt.

Its dry mass is 12.2 metric tons, and the liftoff mass with its load of cryogenic propellant is 170.3 metric tons.

After completing its propulsive mission, the empty stage is commanded to reenter the atmosphere for an ocean splashdown.

Ariane 5 ECA has one Vulcain II Main Engine burning LH[sub]2[/sub]/LOX

Vulcain Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcain
Vulcain-2 Volvo Aero Product Guide: http://www.volvoaero.com/SiteCollection ... 2_2005.pdf
Volvo Aero Vulcain 2 Product Page: http://www.volvoaero.com/VOLVOAERO/GLOB ... ain_2.aspx
Snecma Vulcain 2 Marketing Brochure: http://www.snecma.com/IMG/pdf/Brochure_ ... pdf#page=7
Snecma Vulcain 2 Technical Sheet: http://www.snecma.com/IMG/pdf/VULCAIN_2_ang-2.pdf
Snecma Vulcain 2 Product Page: http://www.snecma.com/spip.php?article121&lang=en

Solid Rocket Boosters

Arianespace's Booster Manufacturing Page: http://www.arianespace.com/spaceport-ar ... ooster.asp
Booster Test Stand Page: http://www.cnes.fr/web/CNES-en/2887-ari ... -stand.php
Booster Manufacturer: http://www.aviogroup.com/en/avio_heritage/spazio (AvioGroup, FiatAvio, Regulus)

Ariane 5 utilizes two solid boosters, each standing more than 30 meters tall with 237.8 metric tons of propellant. The boosters are ignited on the launch pad once the main cryogenic stage's Vulcain engine has stabilized its thrust output.

They deliver more than 90 percent of the launcher's total thrust at the start of flight and burn for 130 sec. before they are separated over a designated zone of the Atlantic Ocean.

The booster stage’s solid rocket motor is made up of three segments: the 11.1-meter-long aft (lower) segment, which is loaded with 106.7 metric tons of propellant; the center segment, with a length of 10.17 meters and 107.4 metric tons of propellant; and the 3.5-meter-long forward (upper) segment, loaded with 23.4 metric tons of propellant.

A propellant mix of 68 percent ammonium perchlorate (oxidizer), 18 percent aluminum (fuel), and 14 percent polybutadiene (binder) is used in the solid rocket motors.

The combustion process is initiated by a pyrotechnic device, and the solid propellant burns at a radial velocity (from the center outward) of approximately 7.4 mm/sec.

Flight control is provided by the boosters' movable nozzle, which is driven by hydraulically-controlled servoactuators.

Second Stage

The second stage of Ariane 5 ECA rocket uses one HM7-B engine burning LH2/LOX.

HM7-B Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM7-B
Snecma HM7-B Marketing Brochure: http://www.snecma.com/IMG/pdf/Brochure_ ... pdf#page=8
Snecma HM7-B Technical Sheet: http://www.snecma.com/IMG/pdf/HM7B_Anglais.pdf
snecma HM7-B Product Page: http://www.snecma.com/spip.php?article120&lang=en

Guiana Launch Centre

Guiana Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guiana_Space_Centre
Cnes CSG Official Page: http://www.cnes-csg.fr/web/CNES-CSG-en/ ... ersion.php
ESA's Europe's Spaceport Page: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_E ... index.html
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&q=5.237 ... 55575&z=15

 

[RVHM]

Re: June 23, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

Ariane 5 is the most successful rocket ever.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: June 23, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

http://www.arianespace.com : Arianespace's Ariane 5 mission with payloads for the Middle East and South Korea is cleared for liftoff

June 21, 2010 – Ariane Flight V195

The next Ariane 5 flight has been given the go-ahead for its Wednesday liftoff following today’s launch readiness review held at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

This milestone, which occurs before every Ariane 5 flight, clears the way for tomorrow’s rollout of the heavy-lift vehicle with the Arabsat-5A and COMS spacecraft, followed by an evening launch from French Guiana on June 23.

The review confirmed the readiness of Ariane 5 and its two satellite passengers, along with the Spaceport’s launch infrastructure and the network of downrange tracking stations.

Ariane 5’s payload lift performance for this second Arianespace mission of 2010 is approximately 8,390 kg. to geostationary transfer orbit, which includes a combined mass of 7,315 kg. for the Arabsat-5A and COMS satellites, plus the launcher’s SYLDA 5 dual-payload dispenser system and associated integration hardware.

The spacecraft is based on Astrium’s Eurostar 3000 platform, and its Thales Alenia Space-supplied payload has 24 Ku-band transponders and 28 C-band transponders. Arabsat-5A will provide telecommunications and TV broadcasting services over the Middle East and Africa.

South Korea’s COMS (Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite) is fitted with three payloads for meteorological observation, ocean surveillance and experimental broadband multimedia communications services. Developed by program prime contractor Astrium based on the Eurostar 3000 platform, COMS is fitted with its multi-mission payload supplied by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.

In the Ariane 5’s dual-payload “stack,” Arabsat-5A is riding in the upper passenger position and will be released first during the mission’s deployment sequence. COMS is installed in the lower slot, housed inside the SYLDA 5 dispenser, and is timed for separation at just over 32 min. into the flight. (See the drawing, above).

Liftoff of the Ariane 5 is planned during a launch window that opens at 6:41 p.m. local time on June 23 at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Launch Window for Ariane Flight V195 with Arabsat-5A & COMS :

Universal time (GMT) : Between 9:41 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. on June 23, 2010

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: June 23, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

arianespace.com : Ariane 5 moves to the launch zone with the Arabsat-5A and COMS satellite payloads

June 22, 2010 – Ariane Flight V195



The 51st Ariane 5 has rolled out to the launch zone at Europe’s Spaceport, clearing the way for tomorrow evening’s liftoff with a dual-passenger payload of the Arabsat-5A and COMS satellites.

Emerging under cloudy French Guiana skies at 10:30 a.m. local time today, the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA was transferred during a one-hour process from the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building to the launch zone, where it was locked in place.

With the transfer now completed, the final countdown will start for Ariane 5’s June 23 liftoff at the start of a launch window that opens at 6:41 p.m. in French Guiana and continues until 7:45 p.m.

 

[Zipi]

Re: June 23, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

orb has posted a really nice info package to Orbiter Forum:

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=16523

Arabsat 5A:

COMS 1:

 

[3488]

Re: June 23, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

Link Here to Live Coverage of Ariane 5 Arabsat 5A & COMS 1 Launch.

Will be a fantastic launch.

Andrew Brown.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: June 23, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

The website shows "Launch Postponed"

 

[3488]

Re: June 23, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

Hi Wayne,

Yes the launch has been postponed. No reason given or next launch attempt.

Andrew Brown.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: June 23, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

LOL, when I try and connect to the Mission Update Page, I get:

Service Unavailable in exactly that font and size

 

[3488]

Re: June 23, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

This just in.

Subsystem Anomaly detected put the Ariane 5 into Safe Mode on the pad.

New launch attempt to be announced soon (whenever 'soon' is).

Andrew Brown.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: June 23, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

This just in.

Subsystem Anomaly detected put the Ariane 5 into Safe Mode on the pad.

New launch attempt to be announced soon (whenever 'soon' is).

Andrew Brown.

www.arianespace.com : The Ariane 5 mission with Arabsat-5A and COMS is postponed

June 23, 2010 – Ariane Flight V195

Tonight’s dual-payload Ariane 5 mission with the Arabsat-5A and COMS satellite passengers was postponed when a launcher subsystem anomaly occurred during the final countdown.

An investigation has been initiated to identify the anomaly’s cause.

The heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA and its two payloads remain in a safe standby mode on the launch pad.

A new launch date will be announced as soon as possible.

 

[montmein69]

Re: Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1 (DELAYED)

The pressure was too low in the upper stage pressurisation system. :?

 

[montmein69]

Re: Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1 (DELAYED)

New attempt to day

From 6:41 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., local time in Kourou, French Guiana.
From 5:41 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
From 9:41 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. UTC.
From 11:41 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. in Paris, on June 24/25.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-r ... h-date.asp

 

[3488]

Re: Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1 (DELAYED)

Here it is the next attempt. Apparently the Upper Stage tank lacked sufficient pressurization & went into Safe Mode.

PRESS RELEASE / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kourou, June 24, 2010

Following additional checks, Arianespace has decided to restart the final
countdown for its mission with the Arabsat-5A and COMS satellites.

Liftoff of the Ariane 5 launcher is now set for the night of Thursday, June
24, as early as possible in the following launch window:

From 6:41 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., local time in Kourou, French Guiana.
From 5:41 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
From 9:41 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. UTC.
From 11:41 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. in Paris, on June 24/25.
From 12:41 a.m. to 01:45 a.m. in Riyadh, on June 25.
From 06:41 a.m. to 07:45 a.m. in Seoul, on June 25.



I will be watching, let's hope it goes OK.

LINK to live broadcast of the launch of Ariane 5 with Arabsat 5 @ COMS 1

Andrew Brown.

 

[Zipi]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

Live coverage will begin in 15min 30sec.

 

[Zipi]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

Live started. 11min to launch.

http://www.videocorner.tv/videocorner2/ ... ?langue=en

 

[Zipi]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

DELAY! Could be minutes or more....

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

Reset to 7 minutes to Launch. Video looking good.

 

[Zipi]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

"L'ensemble de lancement" is the most common Ariane 5 delay/scrub reason... It covers plenty of things from launch pad to some internal measurements and functions inside the rocket itself.

Clock has been reseted to T-7min, but let's see if they can continue the launch during today's launch window, which is almost one hour wide.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

 

[Zipi]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

I personally start to be a quite pessimistic about today's launch... And actually this starts to feel a couple of days scub for me at least.

 

[Zipi]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

Currently my personal quess is that soon we will see an extremely short information from Jean-Yves (he rushes to the speakers stand to say a couple of words in french and runs away) and after that the stream will end very-very quickly. Then it will take days until Arianespace announce anything and week(s) until they try again.

I really hope that I'm incorrect with this prediction. :roll:

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

I have a similar feeling, just less detailed

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

Looks like they are going to try again soon once everything resets.

 

[Zipi]

Re: June 24, Ariane 5 - Arabsat 5A & COMS 1

They try to continue the count soon! Let's hope that they will succeed... Still I personally fear that my prediction will happen. And yet again I say, I hope I'm wrong with this.