Arianespace's Ariane 5 ECA Fitted with its Upper Stage;  Mid-May Mission on Track

KOUROU, French Guiana, April 5, 2006/Satnews Daily/ — Arianespace said on Tuesday assembly of the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA for the company’s mid-May mission marked another milestone with the integration of its ESC-A upper stage.

Produced by EADS Space Transportation, the cryogenic ESC-A upper stage is part of the propulsion system that provides increased lift capabilities for the Ariane 5 ECA. It is powered by Snecma Moteurs' proven third stage HM-7B engine - which provided years of reliable service on Ariane 4.

Arianespace said the Ariane 5 ECA's build-up is continuing inside the Spaceport's launcher assembly building, after which the vehicle will be transferred to the final assembly facility for integration of its dual-satellite payload.

Passengers for the mid-May flight are Satmex 6, to be operated by Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V., a leading satellite services provider in Latin America; and Thailand's THAICOM 5 spacecraft, which join the satellite fleet operated by Shin Satellite Inc.

The upcoming mission will be Arianespace's second launch of 2006, following the March 11 dual-payload success that used another Ariane 5 ECA to place the Spainsat and Hot Bird 7A telecommunications platforms into accurate geostationary transfer orbits.

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