The Spaceport in French Guiana once again is hosting two parallel Ariane 5 mission campaigns in support of Arianespace's busy launch manifest for 2011.
Payload integration for the company's next heavy-lift mission is now underway with the installation of Yahsat Y1A on the launcher's dual-passenger dispenser system.
During activity inside the Final Assembly Building at Europe's Spaceport, the Yahsat Y1A satellite was mounted atop the SYLDA dispenser structure — where it will ride as the upper passenger in the launcher's payload "stack."
This satellite was built by an industrial team of EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space which have co-prime contractor responsibilities.
Yahsat Y1A will be launched along with the Intelsat New Dawn telecommunications satellite during the Ariane 5 mission on March 30, Arianespace's second flight of 2011. Intelsat New Dawn is to be integrated on Ariane 5's core cryogenic stage next week, followed by the installation of Yahsat Y1A and its SYLDA dispenser over it, completing the two-satellite payload "stack."
Also at the Spaceport, the third Ariane 5 for launch by Arianespace this year is beginning to take shape with the assembly start-up of this heavy-lift vehicle, which is to orbit a dual-satellite payload during the month of May.
In a process that has been performed 57 previous times at the Spaceport, the Ariane 5's core cryogenic stage was removed from its protective shipping container and positioned over one of two operational mobile launch tables for the workhorse vehicle.
This clears the way for integration of the Ariane 5's two solid propellant boosters, followed by installation of its cryogenic upper stage and vehicle equipment bay — all of which will occur inside the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building.
Once the basic build-up has been completed, the Ariane 5 will be ready for transfer to the Final Assembly Building where its ST-2 and GSAT-8 satellite payloads will be integrated.
The ST-2 satellite passenger to be lofted by Arianespace's Ariane 5 mission in May will be deployed for ST-2 Satellite Ventures Pte Ltd., a joint venture formed by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (SingTel) and Chunghwa Telecom Company Ltd. Its GSAT-8 co-passenger is a spacecraft for the Indian Space Research Organisation.
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