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Author
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Topic: Final launch of European ARIANE-4 launch-vehicle
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Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-22-2003 12:55 AM
   
The last Ariane 4 to be launched by Arianespace is nearly complete in the Spaceport’s vertical assembly building. Launch of Flight 159 is set for the early morning hours of February 12 carrying the Intelsat 907 telecommunications satellite. See the launch live at arianespace.com |
Rodina
Member Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 01-22-2003 01:13 AM
What replaces Ariane 4? It can't be the case that they're going to do everything from here on out with the Ariane 5, can it? |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-22-2003 03:51 AM
Ariane 5 in all its new versions will become the primary launcher ... Remember Ariane 5 started off as a heavy-lift vehicle for 6200 kg payloads but newer versions ( ESC ) will be capable of 12000 kilogram payloads ...
Ariane was named after the Greek goddess who put a thread in the Labyrint of Minotaurus which enabled Theseus to escape from it ...
Price per kilogram of payload in orbit became a major factor for satellite customers, and a fundamental issue in the competition between the different launch vehicles.
The need to reduce costs and the trend towards heavier satellites, led to the proposal of a first improvement phase aimed at launching two satellites at once ( Lancement double ).
A space launcher complementary to Ariane 5 , probably smaller, which could be of European ( VEGA = Italy )or Russian ( Zemiorka ) origin - are currently studied. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-22-2003 10:47 AM
Interesting note about the Ariane 4, considering that ESA has just grounded all Ariane 5 launches and in doing so cost them the Rosetta mission (it had to be launched by the end of January to achieve the proper trajectory to Comet Wirtanen). Rosetta may launch in a year's time, but it will be with a different target or mission plan.[This message has been edited by Robert Pearlman (edited January 22, 2003).] |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-23-2003 02:02 AM
That's correct ROBERT ...
Some interesting milestones in 40 years of Europe's spaceport in Kourou French Guiana can be found at;
http://personal.nplus.gf/~amazoyan/tourisme/centre_spacial_guyana is.htm [This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited March 01, 2003).] |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-24-2003 02:25 AM
Last December 2002, a dozen Russian technicians of the firm StarCem arrived at the European Space Agency's launch pad in French Guyana in order to explore the possiblity of Soyuz launches from the Kourou site. Arianespace and ESA expect the Russians to pay one third of the installation costs ...
An exciting prospect ... Both Manned and UnManned missions could depart from South-America![This message has been edited by Philip (edited January 24, 2003).] |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 02-13-2003 02:06 AM
Continued strong winds at altitude over the Spaceport in French Guiana have resulted in a second launch postponement for Arianespace Flight 159 on Wednesday 12 February 2003.
Launch condition checks leading to a weather "red" stopped the countdown. The Ariane 4 remains on the pad, protected by the mobile service gantry. Both the launcher and its Intelsat 907 satellite payload are in a safe mode.
Launch team members will review the weather situation again tomorrow afternoon.
Flight 159 will be the final mission of an Ariane 4, as this workhorse launcher family is phased out in favor of the heavy-lift Ariane 5.
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Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 02-15-2003 05:26 AM
Saturday morning ... The early morning launch marked the final flight of an Ariane 4, and the 116th mission of this launcher version -- which entered service in 1988 and successfully orbited 158 primary payloads (plus 27 auxiliary passengers) with a combined mass of over 400 metric tons.
Ariane 5 ESC and ESV versions will become Europe's workhorse launchers from now on ! |
Otis Bowman
New Member Posts:
From:
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posted 03-01-2003 03:56 PM
Philip,
Do you have a video of the last Ariane 5 launch. It was not broadcasted in the US. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-02-2003 04:25 AM
Otis,
Please first try;
http://www.arianespace.com/site/index2.html
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