Six months after the launch of the James Webb telescope, here is the return of Ariane 5 to the Guiana Space Center ! For one of its last flights, the rocket embarked two telecommunications satellites, MEASAT-3d and GSAT-24. Takeoff live at 11:03 p.m. (Paris) if all goes well.
Enough to launch a more active period for the space center.
A “normal” mission for Ariane?
The Guiana Space Center experienced a complex spring. In addition to the departure of Russian teams and the pure and simple cancellation of Soyuz take-offs, the invasion of Ukraine had other consequences on the European launcher programme.
Indeed, the favored transport for the satellites are the large Antonov cargo planes, part of which was destroyed in Ukraine and the other is in operation in Russia (and therefore under embargo). It was therefore necessary to make difficult choices for the manufacturers and operators of satellites in order to convey the precious units to Guyana. Boat for MEASAT-3d, military aircraft for GSAT-24…
But, once there, operations resumed with the well-honed teams preparing for take-off on Ariane 5. For this “classic” launch of the great European rocket, the campaign leading up to the final countdown took place without incident. Six months after the James Webb telescope, the whole world is no longer staring at Guyana, but pampering Ariane’s private and institutional customers is important.
Almost ten tons of satellites
Takeoff is scheduled for June 22 at 11:03 p.m. (Paris), in the Guyanese afternoon. This is a 40-minute mission with a dual launch profile familiar to Ariane 5 enthusiasts: the rocket targets injection into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and will first eject the bulk of the two satellites, MEASAT-3d. The latter comes from the Toulouse workshops of Airbus Defense & Space and weighs 5.65 tonnes. It will be used by the Malaysian operator MEASAT for a nominal period of 18 years, providing secure communications and connections over large unserved areas.
Under the dual launch device (the SYLDA), there is also the Indian satellite GSAT-24 of 4.2 tonnes, which will broadcast telecommunications (including Indian television). It will be operated by a new public-private system, the NSIL (New Space India Limited).
Only a few copies left
Ariane 5 take-offs are rare, for the simple reason that there are not many left: only five, including this one, named VA-257. Two more (or even three) should take place again this year, before the very last firings of the “old” European launcher in the first half of 2023. The final climax should be the launch of the JUICE probe to Jupiter.
However, the schedule is complex. The transition to Ariane 6 could not take place for the moment, and it is a question of preparing the commissioning of the latter while keeping intact the reliability of the last shots of Ariane 5: no question of relaxing its attention ! Ariane 5 must therefore perform flawlessly, when European eyes are already turned towards the future. In less than three weeks, on July 7, the new Vega-C will take off for its maiden flight…
On the same subject :
It’s (finally) official, Ariane 6 will not take off before 2023
Source :CNES
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