Category: Satellites

Preparations are well underway for the qualification flight of Europe?s latest launcher, the Ariane 5 ECA, from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The launch window opens on the evening of 12 February at 16:49 (20:49 CET) and will extend until 18:10 (22:10 CET).

Ariane 5 ECA will be able to place heavy payloads of up to 10 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) in comparison to the 6-tonne payloads placed into GTO by the Ariane 5 Generic launchers. The increased performance of the Ariane 5 ECA is due to two main differences:

* a more powerful Vulcain-2 first stage engine developed from the Ariane 5 generic Vulcain 1 engine
* a cryogenic upper stage (ESCA) using the tried and tested Ariane 4 HM7B engine that made over 130 successful launches

Since the failure of the first Ariane 5 ECA Flight in December 2002, the Vulcain-2 nozzle extension has been redesigned and tested, and an exhaustive review of the whole launcher has been conducted.

Flight 164 will carry three payloads on its journey into space:
* an XTAR-EUR telecommunications satellite: to be placed into GTO
* Sloshsat-FLEVO, an experimental mini-satellite to investigate the dynamics of fluids in weightlessness, jointly developed by ESA and NIVR, the Dutch Agency for Aerospace Programmes: to be placed into GTO
* Maqsat B2 telemetry/video imaging package: to remain mated to the upper stage of the launcher for recording flight data

A successful rehearsal of the entire launch countdown – including final fuelling and countdown but stopping short of ignition – took place on 12 January. This enabled mission team members to validate launch procedures, and test all launcher equipment and ground facilities.

Original Source: ESA News Release

In a span of less than 10 hours, International Launch Services (ILS) placed two satellites in orbit today from space centers on opposite sides of the world.

The flights were carried out by, respectively, a Russian-built Proton/Breeze M vehicle from Baikonur and an American Atlas III vehicle from Cape Canaveral. ILS, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin of the United States (NYSE: LMT) and Khrunichev of Russia, markets both vehicles worldwide and manages the missions.

These back-to-back launches were the first missions in a busy year for ILS.

?No one else can do this,? said ILS President Mark Albrecht. ?The cornerstone of ILS is offering two independent vehicles, launching from independent launch sites, which enables us to service two customers at the same time.?

The Proton vehicle lifted off at 9:27 p.m. EST Wednesday (7:27 a.m. today in Baikonur, 2:27 today GMT), carrying the AMC-12 satellite for SES AMERICOM. After about 9 hours and 19 minutes of flight, the satellite separated from the launcher and went into orbit. AMC-12 is expected to go into service in April, providing communications for the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The satellite was built by Alcatel Space of France.

The Atlas III vehicle, designated AC-206, lifted off from Cape Canaveral?s Space Launch Complex 36B at 2:41 a.m. EST (7:41 GMT) with a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The payload was released into orbit about 79 minutes later. Details about the payload and mission, known as NROL-23, are classified.

?What an accomplishment!? said Albrecht. ?We have had tandem missions before, and it?s challenging and exciting, especially for those of us watching from ILS headquarters. The teams on site focus on only one thing ? the success of their particular mission.?

Dual capabilities give ILS ?a robust launch tempo,? Albrecht said. ?Both vehicles launch commercial and government missions, which keep the manifests busy and keep the teams sharp.?

These launches set records for ILS, namely:

* Shortest timespan between launches on both vehicles: 5 hours and 14 minutes (previous records were 7 hours, 10 minutes on Aug. 21/22, 2002, and 9 hours, 12 minutes on June 30/July 1, 2000).
* 75th consecutive successful Atlas launch.
* Final launch of Atlas III vehicle, the second Atlas family to have achieved 100% success throughout its lifetime.
* 5th launch in 12 months for a single customer ? SES AMERICOM (AMC-10 on Atlas Feb. 5, 2004; AMC-11 on Atlas May 19, 2004; AMC-15 on Proton Oct. 15, 2004; AMC-16 on Atlas Dec. 16, 2004; and AMC-12 on Proton Feb. 3, 2005).

The next scheduled ILS mission is at Cape Canaveral in March, an Atlas V launch with the Inmarsat 4-F1 satellite. Another Atlas V is scheduled to launch the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA in August. Proton missions planned through the rest of the year include communications satellites for DIRECTV, MEASAT, Telesat Canada, SES AMERICOM, SES GLOBAL and Arabsat.

This followed a year in which ILS launched 10 satellites, all successfully ? six on Atlas and four on Proton. The Russian government also used Proton for four missions. With a remarkable launch rate of 72 missions since 2000, the Atlas and Proton launch vehicles have consistently demonstrated the reliability and flexibility that have made them the preferred choice among satellite operators worldwide. Since the beginning of 2003, ILS has signed more new commercial contracts than all of its competitors combined.

ILS was formed in 1995, and is based in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C.

Original Source: ILS News Release

The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Delta IV Heavy made its first flight today achieving the major test objectives despite placing its demonstration satellite in a lower than expected orbit.

The Delta IV Heavy lifted off from Space Launch Complex 37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., at 4:50 p.m. EST, on a demonstration launch for the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. The demonstration satellite was deployed following a 5-hour and 50-minute flight.

?The EELV program and Boeing invested in today’s demonstration launch to ensure that the Delta IV Heavy, the only EELV Heavy variant available, is ready to launch our nation’s most important national security payloads into space,? said Dan Collins, vice president of Boeing Expendable Launch Systems. ?While the demonstration satellite did not reach its intended orbit, we now have enough information and confidence in the Delta IV Heavy to move forward with preparations for the upcoming Defense Support Program launch in 2005.?

A preliminary review of the data indicates that a shorter than expected first-stage burn led to the low orbit. However, according to the Air Force EELV program office, the primary flight objectives were accomplished in today’s all-up test of the new launch vehicle. The heavy boost phase, the new five-meter upper stage and five-meter payload fairing, extended coast, upper stage third burn and payload separation, and activation and usage of Space Launch Complex 37B for a Heavy launch were all successfully demonstrated.

?I want to thank our entire Delta team, including our government and industry partners,? Collins said. ?Their efforts, hard work and focus have once again moved our industry forward. We have a very happy and confident customer, thanks to all the hard work put in by this team.?

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $27 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government, and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world’s largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world’s largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense and Department of Homeland Security; NASA’s largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.

Original Source: Boeing News Release

Arianespace has successfully launched the Helios IIA observation satellite for the French, Belgian and Spanish ministries of defense.

Following a flight lasting 60 minutes and 8 seconds, the Ariane 5 launch vehicle accurately injected Helios IIA into Sun-synchronous polar orbit. The mission also deployed six auxiliary payloads: four Essaim micro-satellites and two other small spacecraft, Parasol and Nanosat.

Sixteenth successful launch
With its 16th successful mission, the standard Ariane 5G (“Generic”) launcher continues to confirm its technical and operational maturity. The launcher also showed its ability to handle a complete range of missions, from government launches into Sun-synchronous orbit to huge commercial satellites into geostationary orbit and scientific spacecraft into special orbits.

The launch was from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on Saturday, December 18, at 1:26 p.m. local time in Kourou (1626 GMT, and 5:26 pm in Paris).

A Boost for Defense
The Ariane 5 launcher is a key to the development of a common European defense and security policy, which must include space capability. Helios IIA is the 23rd military payload to be carried by Europe’s Ariane launcher.

Arianespace covers the spectrum of missions needed by European armed forces:

# Optical observation, including launches of Helios 1A in July 1995 and Helios 1B in December 1999 (for France, Italy, Spain).
# Telecommunications, with Syracuse I, II and II (France), Sicral 1 (Italy), Skynet 4 (U.K.), Hispasat 1A and 1B (Spain), Turksat 1A, 1B, 1C and Eurasiasat (Turkey).

Helios IIA
Helios IIA is the initial satellite in France’s second-generation defense and security spaceborne observation system, being conducted in conjunction with Belgium and Spain. France’s DGA defense procurement agency (D?l?gation G?n?rale pour l’Armement), which is part of the French MoD, is in charge of the program. It has assigned overall responsibility for the space segment to the French space agency, CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales).

Helios IIA weighed approximately 4,200 kg. at launch. It was built by EADS Astrium as prime contractor, leading a large team of European subcontractors, including Alcatel Space, in charge of the high resolution imaging instrument.

Essaim
The Essaim program is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of space-based detection of electromagnetic transmitters, and evaluate the performance of this type of system. EADS Astrium is prime contractor for the Essaim program.

Parasol
The Parasol microsat aims to characterize the radiation and microphysical properties of clouds and aerosols. French space agency CNES is prime contractor for the Parasol microsat.

Nanosat
Nanosat will provide an in-orbit demonstration of several telecommunications nano-technologies, as well as solar and magnetic sensors. It was developed and built by INTA of Spain.

Original Source: Arianespace News Release

Image credit: ILS
An Atlas V launch vehicle placed the AMC-16 satellite into orbit early this morning, marking the 10th and final mission of the year for International Launch Services (ILS).

This was the 74th consecutive successful launch for the Atlas vehicle family, as well as the fourth launch and fourth commercial mission for the Atlas V launcher.

The Atlas V vehicle lifted off at 7:07 a.m. EST (12:07 GMT), and an hour and 49 minutes later separated the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Both the Atlas V launcher and the A2100 model satellite were built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin (LMT), of Bethesda, Md., and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Moscow.

For the past year ILS has been launching nearly monthly with its two vehicles ? the Lockheed Martin Atlas and Khrunichev?s Proton. Not only was today?s launch the 10th of the year; it also was the sixth launch on an Atlas vehicle and the fourth launch this year for the same customer, SES AMERICOM. Atlas IIAS vehicles orbited AMC-10 and AMC-11 in February and May, respectively, and a Proton Breeze M vehicle lifted AMC-15 in October.

?This is record-setting in the number of times we have launched for a single customer in a calendar year,? said ILS President Mark Albrecht. ?SES AMERICOM is a ?platinum customer,? one with which we have a long-standing relationship and have seen many launches. We look forward to continuing our ties with the launch of WS-2 (AMC-12) in early 2005.?

The AMC-16 satellite, like its twin, AMC-15, is integral to AMERICOM2Home and its customer, EchoStar?s DISH Network. In its final orbital location of 85 degrees West, it will provide coverage to all 50 states.

Anders Johnson, senior vice president of strategic satellite initiatives for SES AMERICOM, said, ?We are delighted that AMC-16 has been successfully launched; our heartiest congratulations first to Lockheed Martin for delivering a great spacecraft and to ILS for this morning?s picture-perfect launch.?

ILS is the global leader in launch services, offering the industry?s two best launch systems: Atlas and Proton. With a remarkable launch rate of 69 missions since 2000, the Atlas and Proton launch vehicles have consistently demonstrated the reliability and flexibility that have made them preferred choice among satellite operators worldwide. Since the beginning of 2003, ILS has signed more new commercial contracts than all of its competitors combined.

Original Source: ILS News Release

A Russian Proton launch vehicle placed the AMC-15 satellite into orbit this morning, marking the ninth mission of the year for International Launch Services (ILS).

The Proton lifted off at 3:23 a.m. today in Baikonur (5:23 p.m. Thursday EDT, 21:23 Thursday GMT), with spacecraft separation from the Breeze M upper stage nearly seven hours later, at 10:18 a.m. (12:18 a.m. EDT, 4:18 GMT).

ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia. ILS markets and manages the missions on the Proton vehicle and on the American Atlas rocket.

?We thank SES AMERICOM for launching again with ILS,? said ILS President Mark Albrecht. ?This makes three for three, with two to go this year for this customer. I?m proud of our long-standing relationship with AMERICOM and its parent company, SES GLOBAL. And it?s good to be involved with EchoStar again as well, which has launched several dedicated satellites with ILS before teaming with SES AMERICOM on AMC-15.?

AMC-15, an A2100 model satellite built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, carries both Ku- and Ka-band payloads. SES AMERICOM?s customer for this satellite is EchoStar?s DISH Network direct-to-home service.

ILS started its launch year in February by orbiting the AMC-10 satellite on an Atlas vehicle, and it launched AMC-11 in May on another Atlas. The two remaining AMERICOM payloads are set for December launches, with AMC-16 satellite on an Atlas V vehicle and WorldSat 2 on another Proton vehicle.

Dany Harel, SES AMERICOM vice president for satellite and space systems, said: ?This Proton Breeze M launch was picture-perfect in the darkened skies over Kazakhstan, and on spec as we monitored every stage. We thank the ILS team for delivering AMC-15 into transfer orbit. Now we and our Lockheed Martin spacecraft partners can get the satellite ready for service to our customer, EchoStar, by December.?

ILS is the global leader in launch services, offering the industry’s two best launch systems: Atlas and Proton. With a remarkable launch rate of 67 missions since 2000, the Atlas and Proton launch vehicles have consistently demonstrated the reliability and flexibility that have made them preferred choice among satellite operators worldwide. Since the beginning of 2003, ILS has signed more new commercial contracts than all of its competitors combined. ILS was formed in 1995, and is based in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C.

Original Source: ILS News Release

Image credit: Arianespace
During this year’s International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Congress in Vancouver, Canada, Arianespace, the Russian Space Agency with the support of the Russian space industry and IAF, in partnership with the leading space agencies from around the world, are proposing to commemorate the first satellite launch in 1957, by orbiting a cluster of 50 nanosatellites, each representing a different country.

Each nanosat will weigh about one kilogram, and will be dedicated to a scientific experiment under the responsibility of researchers at universities or other organizations. Each nanosat will offer a design life of about two years. All 50 will be launched on a single Arianespace mission.

“Arianespace is very proud to be participating in this commemoration,” said Jean-Yves Le Gall, the company’s Chief Executive Officer. “Supporting science and research is an integral part of our assigned mission. We have already orbited some 40 auxiliary payloads of the same type we will launch in 2007. Just like 50 years ago, when the first man-made Earth satellite was launched, these nanosatellites will signal a new era for scientists worldwide.”

Original Source: Arianespace News Release

An Atlas IIAS rocket lifted off tonight, successfully carrying a national security payload into orbit.

The mission, called AC-167, was provided for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) by International Launch Services (ILS), using a Lockheed Martin-built Atlas vehicle. Liftoff was at 7:17 p.m. Tuesday EDT (23:17 today GMT) from Cape Canaveral?s Pad 36A, with payload separation into transfer orbit 73 minutes later.

Tonight?s flight was the eighth mission of the year for ILS, as well as the fifth Atlas launch. It also was the 73rd consecutive successful flight for the Atlas family in any launch configuration. This also marks the 30th and final flight for an Atlas IIAS model and the 63rd flight and final flight of any Atlas II version. In addition, this was the final flight after 47 years of the Rocketdyne MA-5A engine, which powered the Atlas II booster.

?The Atlas family has launched government payloads for more than 40 years,? said ILS President Mark Albrecht. ?We?re always proud to have a role in assisting in the security of our nation.?

Albrecht also pointed out the perfect record of not only the Atlas IIAS vehicles, but of the entire Atlas II line, which began flying in December 1991. ?This is an awesome accomplishment, being the only U.S. expendable launch vehicle series to have had 100 percent success throughout its entire lifespan,? he said. ?The Atlas team is an incredible group of people who make Mission Success for our customers a way of life.?

This is the second ILS launch this month, following the Aug. 5 successful flight of a Proton Breeze M vehicle, with the Amazonas satellite for Hispasat of Spain and Hispamar of Brazil.

ILS is a joint venture of Atlas builder Lockheed Martin and the Proton?s builder, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia. ILS is headquartered in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C.

ILS has established itself as the indisputable launch services leader by offering the industry’s two best launch systems: Atlas and Proton. With a remarkable launch rate of 66 missions since 2000, the Atlas and Proton launch vehicles have consistently demonstrated the reliability and flexibility that have made them the vehicles of choice. Since the beginning of 2003, ILS has signed more new commercial contracts than all its competitors combined. For more information and highlights of the mission, visit www.ilslaunch.com.

Original Source: ILS News Release

A Proton rocket launched by International Launch Services (ILS) successfully carried the Amazonas satellite into orbit today.

The 191-foot-tall (58.2-meters) vehicle lifted off at 4:32 a.m. from Baikonur (6:32 p.m. EDT Wednesday, 22:32 GMT Wednesday). The rocket?s Breeze M upper stage placed the satellite into a transfer orbit 9 hours and 11 minutes later.

The launch vehicle was built by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Moscow, a partner in the ILS joint venture along with Lockheed Martin Corp. [NYSE:LMT]. This was the third Proton launch of the year for ILS, and the seventh mission overall for the company in 2004.

The satellite was built for Hispasat of Spain, and will be used by its subsidiaries Hispamar of Brazil and Hispasat Canarias to provide a multitude of communications services at both C- and Ku-band on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. When it reaches its operating position of 61 degrees West longitude, the Amazonas satellite will be the largest in the Hispasat fleet. The high-power satellite is a Eurostar E3000 model built by EADS Astrium of Europe, the third E3000 spacecraft launched by ILS this year.

?We thank Hispasat for again selecting an ILS vehicle,? said ILS President Mark Albrecht. ?We have demonstrated that Hispasat can rely on us for a good launch, whether they choose Proton, or whether they choose Atlas as they have twice before.?

Albrecht added that the Proton vehicle has now completed five missions this year, three for ILS and two for the Russian government. ?We call this the workhorse of the Russian fleet, because it flies so often and so reliably. Everyone from start-up businesses to telecommunications giants to participants in the International Space Station have put their trust in Proton,? he said. ?ILS is proud to market this vehicle for commercial satellite launches.?

“This is a major milestone for EADS Astrium, with Amazonas being the third Eurostar E3000 version satellite to be launched this year by a Proton Breeze M launcher from ILS,” said Antoine Bouvier, CEO of EADS Astrium. ?Amazonas is the most powerful satellite ordered by Hispasat. The satellite was delivered in time, which was very important. This satellite is equipped with a new lithium-ion battery offering higher efficiency. All our teams in Europe were mobilized to make this event a success.?

ILS has established itself as the indisputable launch services leader by offering the industry’s two best launch systems: Proton and the Lockheed Martin-built Atlas. With a remarkable launch rate of 65 missions since 2000, the Atlas and Proton launch vehicles have consistently demonstrated the reliability and flexibility that have made them the vehicles of choice. Since the beginning of 2003, ILS has signed more new commercial contracts than all its competitors combined. ILS was formed in 1995, and is based in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C.

Original Source: ILS News Release

Telesat, one of the world?s leading satellite operators, announced today the successful launch of the Anik F2 – the world?s largest commercial communications satellite. Telesat?s Anik F2 also makes history as the first satellite to fully commercialize the Ka frequency band ? a breakthrough satellite communications technology for delivering cost-effective, two-way broadband services.

Telesat?s Anik F2 will enable dramatic improvements in access to two-way, high-speed Internet services for consumers and businesses. The satellite will also provide new capacity for a wide range of broadcasting and telecommunications services across North America.

?With Anik F2 we enter a new frontier in satellite communications ? not just for Telesat, but also for the global communications industry,? said Larry Boisvert, Telesat?s president and CEO. ?Once again, Telesat is making advanced communications more accessible for everyone. With Telesat?s Anik F2, North American consumers and businesses will have access to the most advanced broadband services ? anywhere and anytime.?

Anik F2 will be used in innovative ways for both commercial and public services. For example, the Canadian government can use Anik F2 to improve services to remote communities through tele-health, tele-learning and other applications.

Manufactured by Boeing Satellite Systems, Telesat?s Anik F2 was launched on an Ariane 5G rocket from Europe?s Spaceport in Kourou at 9:44 p.m. local time. Arianespace provided mission management. Anik F2 represents Telesat?s fifteenth successful satellite launch.

Telesat?s Anik F2 is equipped with 38 Ka-band transponders, 32 Ku-band transponders and 24 C-band transponders. The spacecraft has a launch mass of 5,950 kg (13,118 lb), a solar array span of 48 metres once deployed in orbit, and spacecraft power of 15 kw at end of life. The satellite, operating in geostationary orbit, will provide commercial services for an estimated 15 years.

Following in-orbit tests this summer and fall, Telesat will take possession of Anik F2 and begin commercial service in the fall.

Original Source: Telsat News Release