It's countdown to Arianespace's initial Ariane 5 mission of 2009, which has taken another major step closer to its February 12 liftoff with the launch vehicle's transfer to the Final Assembly Building at Europe's Spaceport. The January 26 rollout brought this heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA from the Launcher Integration Building (where it underwent integration of its core cryogenic stage, solid propellant boosters, cryogenic upper stage and equipment bay), to the Final Assembly Building for installation of its multi-satellite payload. Photo right: The Ariane 5 for Arianespace’s first mission in 2009 nears the Final Assembly Building at Europe’s Spaceport, where its multi-satellite payload will be integrated.

With the transfer, the Ariane 5 was formally delivered from industrial prime contractor EADS Astrium Space Transportation to Arianespace, which takes over responsibility for payload integration and the final launch operations. The February 12 mission will carry a three-element payload, consisting of two primary telecommunications satellites and a pair of auxiliary passengers.  Its primary payloads are SES NEW SKIES' NSS-9 relay platform, produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation of the United States; and Eutelsat's HOT BIRD 10, which was built by EADS Astrium.

NSS-9 will have a liftoff mass of 2,230 kg. and is to provide relay services for a wide range of SES NEW SKIES customers, including broadcasters, government users, carriers across the Pacific islands and the maritime industry. This spacecraft carries 44 active C-band transponders, and will be positioned at an orbital slot of 183° East.

HOT BIRD 10 will operate from Eutelsat's "premium video neighborhood" orbital location of 13 degrees East for cable and satellite broadcasting. It is similar to the 4,880-kg. HOT BIRD 9 satellite orbited by Arianespace's year-ending 2008 mission on December 20. Photo left: HOT BIRD 10 received its propellant load in the S5 facility’s S5A fueling and integration hall.

Joining HOT BIRD 10 and NSS-9 on the upcoming Ariane 5 launch are two small Spirale satellites, which are demonstrators for a French defense space-based optical early warning system.  These 120-kg.-class micro-satellites were built by Alcatel Space for Spirale program prime contractor EADS Astrium, which also has integration responsibility for the spacecraft. Photo right: EADS Astrium is the prime contractor for this French national program for the design and production of a space based optical early warning system demonstrator and will supply the alert and monitoring ground segment.

Arianespace is targeting a total of six to eight Ariane 5 missions in 2009, continuing a sustained flight rate as the company responds to the space lift needs of its international customer base. Follow Arianespace's launch activity at.