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Another Ariane 5 Taking Shape at Spaceport |
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Kourou, French Guiana, Oct. 25/Satnews Daily/ — A new launch vehicle is taking shape at the Spaceport in French Guiana as Flight 165's Ariane 5 G begins its buildup in the Launcher Integration Building.
Nearby, Ariane 5 ECA heavy-lift launcher version
for Flight 164 is entering the final preparation phase as this vehicle
is readied in the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building. Flight 164 will carry the XTAR-EUR satellite - which will provide X-band relay capacity for the U.S., Spanish and allied governments, along with an experimental/test payload consisting of the Sloshsat mini satellite and the Maqsat B2 telemetry/video imaging package.
Last Wednesday, the cryogenic core main stage for Flight 165's Ariane 5 G was raised from the container that protected this launcher component during its shipment from Europe. The core stage is produced by EADS Space Transportation, and carries cryogenic propellant for the launcher's Vulcain main engine.
The cryogenic core main stage was positioned over an Ariane 5 mobile launch table inside the Launcher Integration Building
The first of two large solid propellant booster stages for Flight 165 was transferred Thursday by rail from its production site to the Launcher Integration Building, where it will be mated to Ariane 5's cryogenic core stage.
EADS Space Transportation has overall responsibility for the booster stage, while the solid rocket motor is produced by Europropulsion (a joint venture company of France's Snecma and Avio SpA of Italy).
Flight 165 will use an Ariane 5 Generic launcher version to orbit the French governmental spacecraft.
Recent Stories: Arianespace Prepares for Two Upcoming Ariane 5 Missions Ariane 5 ECA Moves to the Launch Zone for Countdown Validation Tests |
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