Preparations of the TerreStar-1 passenger for Arianespace’s third Ariane 5 mission in 2009 have moved into their final phase with this week’s fueling of the satellite at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

TerreStar-1, which will be the largest commercial telecommunications spacecraft ever launched. was loaded with its propellant in the S5A fueling and integration hall of the Spaceport’s S5 satellite preparation facility. Riding as a single payload on a dedicated Ariane 5 ECA, TerreStar-1’s liftoff is scheduled for July 1. This Space Systems/Loral-built spacecraft will provide critical services for government, emergency responders, rural communities, and commercial users. Operating in the 2 GHz spectrum, TerreStar-1 is designed to deliver voice, data and video communications to satellite/terrestrial mobile devices the size of a typical smart phone, with its relay footprint covering the United States and Canada. Arianespace is targeting seven flights in 2009. In addition to the launcher that is now ready to be fitted with TerreStar-1, another Ariane 5 is taking shape at the Spaceport for Arianespace’s fourth mission of this year.