Stile 88
01-28-2009, 08:06 AM
Arianespace on Tuesday said that its first scheduled liftoff of the year is on track to take place Feb. 12 after the Ariane 5 launch vehicle was moved to the Final Assembly Building at Europe's Spaceport this week.
With the move, control of Ariane 5 was formally transferred from EADS Astrium Space Transportation to Arianespace, which will handle all of the preparations for launch.
The Feb. 12 mission will carry two primary telecommunications satellites -- including SES NEW SKIES' NSS-9 relay platform and Eutelsat's HOT BIRD 10 -- as well as two small Spirale satellites for France's early warning defense system. NSS-9 carries 44 active C-band transponders and will be positioned at 183 degrees East, while HOT BIRD 10 will operate from Eutelsat's orbital location of 13 degrees East for cable and satellite broadcasting.
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With the move, control of Ariane 5 was formally transferred from EADS Astrium Space Transportation to Arianespace, which will handle all of the preparations for launch.
The Feb. 12 mission will carry two primary telecommunications satellites -- including SES NEW SKIES' NSS-9 relay platform and Eutelsat's HOT BIRD 10 -- as well as two small Spirale satellites for France's early warning defense system. NSS-9 carries 44 active C-band transponders and will be positioned at 183 degrees East, while HOT BIRD 10 will operate from Eutelsat's orbital location of 13 degrees East for cable and satellite broadcasting.
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