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The payload
fairing containing WildBlue-1 is hoisted from the encapsulation
hall area of Ariane 5's Final Assembly Building at the
Spaceport. An overhead hoist lifts the payload through an
opening in the hall's ceiling, providing access to the launcher.
(Arianespace/CNES photo) |
KOUROU, French Guiana, Dec. 7, 2006/Satnews
Daily/ ― Arianespace's year-ending Ariane 5 mission has been cleared
for its December 8 liftoff following last Wednesday’s launch readiness
review, which was performed at the Spaceport in French Guiana.
Arianespace said the dual-satellite payload "stack"
on Ariane 5, with WildBlue-1 in the upper position and AMC-18 installed
below it, is now cleared for launch.
Liftoff is scheduled at the opening of a 43-minute
launch window between 07:08 p.m. and 07:51 p.m. on December 8 at Kourou;
between 10:08 p.m. and 10:51 p.m. GMT on December 8; and between 11:08
p.m. and 11:51 p.m. on December 8 at Paris, France.
The
readiness review, which is carried out prior to every Ariane flight,
validates the readiness of Ariane 5, its dual satellite payload, the
Spaceport's infrastructure and the down-range tracking stations.
Arianespace said its December 8 launch is dedicated to the North
American marketplace: both satellites will serve the North America
region, and each was built by U.S. manufacturers.
Riding in the Ariane 5's upper payload position is WildBlue
Communications' WildBlue-1 spacecraft, which was produced in Palo Alto,
California by Space Systems/ Loral. It will be used by Colorado-based
WildBlue Communications for direct two-way wireless Internet access
across the contiguous United States. This service is targeted
specifically for homes and small offices in areas where terrestrial
broadband access alternatives are either limited or unavailable.
With a liftoff mass of 4,735 kg., the three-axis stabilized WildBlue-1
is based on Space Systems/Loral's FS 1300 satellite bus, and has a
15-year design life. Following its deployment in geostationary transfer
orbit by Ariane 5, WildBlue-1 will be situated at an orbital position of
111 deg. West.
WildBlue-1 is one of the world's first commercial all Ka-band
satellites, taking advantage of a portion of the radio spectrum with
substantially more capacity than available in the commonly-used Ku-band.
AMC-18 is integrated as the lower payload on Ariane 5, and is to be
utilized by New Jersey-based SES Americom to expand its fleet of
satellites that distribute cable, television and radio broadcasts,
telecommunications services, business television and broadband data
throughout the Americas and transoceanic regions.
The AMC-18 payload was produced by Lockheed Martin Commercial Satellite
Systems at its Sunnyvale, California, facility, and is based on the
company's A2100 spacecraft bus. Mass at liftoff is 2,080 kg., and
payload consists of 24 C-band transponders. After being released by
Ariane 5, AMC-18 will operate from an orbital position of 105 deg. West.
Recent Stories:
Arianespace to Launch COMS-1 for South Korea
WildBlue-1 Joins AMC-18 on the Ariane 5 Launcher; Launch
Set for Dec. 8
AMC-18 Integrated for Ariane 5’s Dec. 8
Launch
WildBlue-1, AMC-18 Readied for installation on Ariane 5
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