Ariane 5 Aims For Dec 10 Commercial Launch

Evry - October 25, 1999 - Arianespace has scheduled its first commercial flight of Europe's new Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher for December 10. This mission, designated Flight 119/AR 504, is to carry the European Space Agency's XMM scientific satellite, and will be performed from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

The flight will mark an industry milestone, with Ariane 5 becoming the first new-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle to enter commercial service. Ariane 5 was qualified for commercial operations after its third validation mission, conducted in October 1998.

Arianespace plans to perform as many as six commercial Ariane 5 launches in 2000.

Launch campaign planning: activity resumed October 20 in Kourou

October 20 Resumption of campaign -- Launcher reactivated in the launcher integration building. Launcher re-configuration begins for a single satellite payload with XMM.
November 19 Transfer of launcher to the final assembly building
November 25 XMM satellite integrated on Ariane 504 launcher
December 6 General rehearsal
December 9 Transfer to launch zone
December 10 Final countdown

These dates are provided for information purposes, and may be adjusted according scheduling of the upcoming Ariane 4 launch campaigns: Flight 123/GE- 4, set for November 13; and Flight 124/Helios 1B, planned for early December.

The next launch : Flight 123, a mission for GE American Communications

The next Arianespace launch, Flight 123, is slated for November 13. An Ariane 44LP will loft the GE-4 television satellite for GE American Communications. Following Flight 122, and the two launch contracts signed at Telecom Geneva '99, for Astra 2D and NSS-7, Arianespace's backlog now stands at 43 satellites to be launched.

ArianeSpace

SPACE-SHIP.COM

Ariane Hams It Up With More Orders

Ariane Picks Up 2 More US Sats

Ariane Picks Wins Telstar 7 Launch

Ariane 5 at Space and Tech

Launcher - SpaceDaily News Basket

Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly

paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.