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Ariane 5 Mission Takes Next Assembly Step
Washington DC (SPX) May 14, 2006 Arianespace announced it has moved the Ariane 5 ECA into the Final Assembly Building at Europe's Spaceport, where it will receive its heavyweight satellite payloads in preparation for a scheduled May 26 liftoff. Ariane 5 ECA emerged from the Launcher Integration Building - where technicians completed the vehicle's basic assembly - last week atop its mobile launch table, and moved along a 2.5 kilometer (1.5 mile) semi-circular rail line to the Final Assembly Building for installation of its dual satellite payload. The mobile launch table is one of two now dedicated to Ariane 5 missions. Both are configured to accommodate the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA with its increased-performance cryogenic upper stage. The dual launch tables allow Arianespace to conduct Ariane 5 ECA missions within a month. The rocket will receive the Satmex 6 and Thaicom 5 satellites, which have a combined weight of approximately 8.5 metric tons (9.4 short tons, or 18,800 pounds) � the heaviest payload by an Ariane 5 mission into geostationary transfer orbit. Satmex 6 will have a mass at liftoff of approximately 5,700 kilograms (12,600 pounds), and is to be operated by Mexico's Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. It is based on a Space Systems/Loral FS-1300X satellite bus and carries a mixed relay payload of 36 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders. Satmex 6 will provide coverage over Mexico, South America and the continental United States. Thaicom 5 is an Alcatel Alenia Space-built spacecraft that will provide telecom and television services throughout the Asia/Pacific region from an orbital position at 78.5 degrees east. Weighing approximately 2,800 kilograms (6,200 pounds) at launch, it is equipped with 14 Ku-band transponders and 24 C-band transponders, and will join the satellite fleet of Thailand's Shin Satellite Public Company Limited. Related Links Arianespace SATMEX THAICOM
Sea Launch Contracts To Launch EchoStar XI
Long Beach CA (SPX) May 12, 2006Sea Launch announced Monday it has signed a firm contract with EchoStar Communications to launch the EchoStar XI Direct Broadcast Satellite in 2007. Sea Launch has placed two previous EchoStar satellites in orbit: EchoStar IX in August 2003 and EchoStar X in February 2006. |
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