Launch News ARIANESPACE FLIGHT - NILESAT 201 & RASCOM-QAF1R : August 4, 2010

[Notebook]

THE LAUNCH READINESS REVIEW (RAL) took place in Kourou on Monday, August 2, 2010 and authorized count-down operations for the NILESAT 201 & RASCOM-QAF1R.
For its third launch of the year, Arianespace will orbit the NILESAT 201 direct broadcast satellite for the Egyptian operator Nilesat, and the RASCOM-QAF1R communications satellite for pan-African operator RascomStar-QAF. Both satellites were built by Thales Alenia Space.
The choice of Arianespace by leading space communications operators and manufacturers is clear international recognition of the company’s excellence in launch services.
It will be launched from the Ariane launch complex N° 3 (ELA3), in Kourou, French Guiana.

THE ARIANE 5 ECA LAUNCHER LIFT-OFF for this flight is scheduled on August 4, 2010Live webcasting start 20 minutes before lift-off.
Video webcasting will be available in FlashMedia and WindowsMedia form
http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm

If anyone knows how to make those times horizontal, let me know and I'll tidy it up.

N.
Thanks to Orb for formatting, can't get it right,i'll give up now. See below for nice tables​

 

[orb]

If anyone knows how to make those times horizontal, let me know and I'll tidy it up.

N.

Try this (with added timezone abbreviations and fixed 00:45 a.m. ):

[PLAIN][table][center][size=1]Timezone[/size][/center]|[center][size=1]UTC / GMT[/size][/center]|[center][size=1]Paris / CEST[/size][/center]|[center][size=1]Kuorou / GFT[/size][/center]|[center][size=1]Washington DC / EDT[/size][/center]|[center][size=1]Cairo, Egypt / EEST[/size][/center]|[center][size=1]Port-Louis, Mauritius / MUT[/size][/center]

[right][size=1]Between[/size][/right]|[center][size=1][b]8:45 p.m.[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]10:45 p.m.[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]5:45 p.m.[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]4:45 p.m.[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]11:45 p.m.[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]12:45 a.m.[/b][/size][/center]

[right][size=1]and[/size][/right]|[center][size=1][b]11:34 p.m.[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]1:34 a.m.[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]8:34 p.m.[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]7:34 p.m.[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]2:34 a.m.[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]3:34 a.m.[/b][/size][/center]

[right][size=1]on[/size][/right]|[center][size=1][b]August 4, 2010[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]August 4/5, 2010[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]August 4, 2010[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]August 4, 2010[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]August 4/5, 2010[/b][/size][/center]|[center][size=1][b]August 5, 2010[/b][/size][/center][/table][/PLAIN]

This will be displayed as:

Timezone​

|

UTC / GMT​

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Paris / CEST​

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Kuorou / GFT​

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Washington DC / EDT​

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Cairo, Egypt / EEST​

|

Port-Louis, Mauritius / MUT​

Between​

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8:45 p.m.​

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10:45 p.m.​

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5:45 p.m.​

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4:45 p.m.​

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11:45 p.m.​

|

12:45 a.m.​

and​

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11:34 p.m.​

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1:34 a.m.​

|

8:34 p.m.​

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7:34 p.m.​

|

2:34 a.m.​

|

3:34 a.m.​

on​

|

August 4, 2010​

|

August 4/5, 2010​

|

August 4, 2010​

|

August 4, 2010​

|

August 4/5, 2010​

|

August 5, 2010​

You only need to add colors, if you like.

You can also check the code of opening post from the previous Ariane 5 launch, by clicking on the reply button.

--------------------

There is a calendar event for this launch with a timer set for the beginning of the launch window.
Anyone* interested can request a reminder, which will be sent via e-mail before this event.

(* - forum member)


I would carry this out, if I wasn't away for a few days lately.

---------- Post added at 18:10 ---------- Previous post was at 12:52 ----------

See below for nice tables

So, I'm giving you some more nice tables here:


The satellites:

Satellite​

|NILESAT 201|RASCOM-QAF1R

Customer​

|THALES ALENIA SPACE for Nilesat|THALES ALENIA SPACE for RascomStar-QAF

Prime contractor​

|Thales Alenia Space|Thales Alenia Space

Mission​

|Satellite for Direct Television (DTH)|Telecommunications, Direct TV, Internet

Total mass at lift-off​

|3200 kg|3050 kg

Stabilization​

|3 axis stabilized|3 axis

Dimensions​

|2.9 x 1.8 x 2.8 m|2.3 x 1.8 x 3.7 m

Span in orbit​

|29.6 m|31.8 m

Platform​

|SPACEBUS 4000 B2|SPACEBUS 4000 B3

Payload​

|24 Ku-band transponders and 4 Ka-band transponders|12 Ku-band transponders and 8 C-band transponders

On-board power​

|6.0 kW (end of life)|6.6 kW (end of life)

Life time​

|15 years|15 years

Orbital position​

|7° West|2.85° East

Coverage area​

|The Middle East, Africa, the Gulf States|Africa, parts of Europe and the Middle East

Pictures​

|

​

|

​

Appearance in space​

|

|

Injection orbit:

Perigee altitude|250 km

Apogee altitude|35.919 km at injection

Inclination|2°

Launch preparations timeline:

June 8, 2010|Campaign start review

June 8, 2010|EPC Erection

June 9, 2010|EAP transfer and positioning

June 11, 2010|Integration EPC/EAP

June 16, 2010|ESC-A and VEB Erection

June 29, 2010|Arrival in Kourou of NILESAT 201 and beginning of preparation campaign in building S1 B

June 29, 2010|Arrival in Kourou of RASCOM-QAF1R and beginning of preparation campaign in building S1 B

July 9-13, 2010|NILESAT 201 filling operations

July 12-15, 2010|RASCOM-QAF1R filling operations

July 16, 2010|Ariane 5 roll-out from BIL to BAF

July 19, 2010|NILESAT 201 integration on adaptor (ACU)

July 21, 2010|NILESAT 201 transfer to Final Assembly Building (BAF) and integration on Sylda

July 22, 2010|RASCOM-QAF1R integration on adaptor

July 23, 2010|Fairing integration on Sylda - RASCOM-QAF1R transfer to Final Assembly Building (BAF)

July 26, 2010|RASCOM-QAF1R integration on launcher

July 27, 2010|Upper composite integration with NILESAT 201 on launcher

July 28, 2010|ESC-A final preparations and payloads control

July 29, 2010|Launch rehearsal

July 30, 2010|Arming of launch vehicle

August 2, 2010|Arming of launch vehicle / Launch readiness review (RAL) and final preparation of launcher

August 3, 2010|Roll-out from BAF to Launch Area (ZL), launch vehicle connections and filling of the EPC liquid Helium sphere

August 4, 2010|Launch countdown including EPC and ESC-A filling with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen

A few links with a bit of history of Ariane 5 flight V196 launch preparations (if you want some pictures, they are inside):

• June 11, 2010: Maintaining the mission pace: three Ariane 5s are at the Spaceport in French Guiana:

  Arianespace’s third Ariane 5 for liftoff in 2010 is beginning to take shape in the Launcher Integration Building at the Spaceport. Its build-up process began on June 8 with the erection of Ariane 5’s core cryogenic stage, which subsequently will be fitted with the two solid propellant boosters and upper composite – which consists of the cryogenic upper stage and equipment bay. This Ariane 5 will orbit the RASCOM-QAF 1R and NILESAT 201 telecommunications payloads.
  ...

• June 18, 2010: The third Ariane 5 for launch in 2010 completes its basic assembly:

  Initial assembly of the third Ariane 5 to be launched in 2010 has been completed at the Spaceport as its ESC-A upper stage and vehicle equipment bay are now installed atop the vehicle’s cryogenic core stage.
  ...

• July 1, 2010: Thales Alenia Space delivers its two satellite payloads for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission:

  A chartered An-124 cargo jetliner arrived at Cayenne’s Rochambeau International Airport with the Nilesat-201 and RASCOM-QAF1R spacecraft, both of which were built by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor for their respective customers: Nilesat and RascomStar-QAF.
  ...

• July 7, 2010: Pre-launch processing is underway with the two payloads for Ariane 5’s upcoming launch:

  The Nilesat-201 and RASCOM-QAF1R satellite passengers for Arianespace’s third heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA launch of 2010 have begun final checkout in preparation for their planned August 3 liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana.
  ...

• July 26, 2010: Ariane 5 is ready for its payload integration in advance of next week's launch:

  The Ariane 5 for Arianespace’s third mission in 2010 is ready to enter the final launch preparation phase, during which this heavy-lift vehicle will receive its dual-satellite payload.
  ...

• July 28, 2010: Integration begins with the next Ariane 5 to be launched from the Spaceport:

  The fourth Ariane 5 for launch in 2010 is now taking shape at the Spaceport in French Guiana as Arianespace maintains its mission pace for the heavy-lift workhorse.
  ...

• August 2, 2010: Ariane 5 is cleared for its launch with NILESAT 201 and RASCOM-QAF1R:

  Arianespace’s third heavy-lift flight of 2010 has been authorized for its August 4 liftoff following today’s launch readiness review at the Spaceport in French Guiana.
  ...

Launch kit (all links to PDF files):

{colsp=2}

The body​

|{colsp=2}

Cover art​

{colsp=2}

Language​

|w/ margins|w/o margins

English​

|

Français​

|

​

|

​

Launch operations timeline:

T [hh:mm:ss] |{colsp=3} Event

-11:30:00|{colsp=3}Start of final countdown

-07:30:00|{colsp=3}Check of electrical systems

-04:50:00|{colsp=3}Start of filling of main cryogenic stage with liquid oxygen and hydrogen

-03:20:00|{colsp=3}Chilldown of Vulcain main stage engine

-01:10:00|{colsp=3}Check of connections between launcher and telemetry, tracking and command systems

-00:07:00|{colsp=3}"All systems go" report, allowing start of synchronized sequence

-00:04:00|{colsp=3}Tanks pressurized for flight

-00:01:00|{colsp=3}Switch to onboard power mode

-00:00:05.5|{colsp=3}Command issued for opening of cryogenic arms

-00:00:04|{colsp=3}Onboard systems take over

-00:00:03|{colsp=3}Unlocking of guidance systems to flight mode

+00:00:00|Ignition of the cryogenic main stage engine (EPC)| ALT [km] | V. rel. [m/s]

+00:00:07.05|Ignition of solid boosters|

0​

|

0​

+00:00:07.3|Liftoff|

0​

|

0​

+00:00:12.5|End of vertical climb and beginning of pitch rotation (10 seconds duration)|

0.087​

|

36.6​

+00:00:17|Beginning of roll manoeuvre|

0.341​

|

75.4​

+00:02:22|Jettisoning of solid boosters|

121.0​

|

2004​

+00:03:28|Jettisoning of fairing|

121.2​

|

2269​

+00:07:14|Acquisition by Natal tracking station|

227​

|

4448​

+00:08:55|Shut-down of main cryogenic stage|

259.2​

|

6653​

+00:09:01|Separation of main cryogenic stage|

259.3​

|

6680​

+00:09:05|Ignition of upper cryogenic stage (ESC-A)|

259.3​

|

6682​

+00:13:04|Acquisition by Ascension tracking station|

249​

|

7276​

+00:18:38|Acquisition by Libreville tracking station|

219​

|

8264​

+00:23:37|Acquisition by Malindi tracking station|

343​

|

9233​

+00:24:40|Shut-down of ESC-A / Injection|

551.5​

|

9442​

+00:28:44|Separation of NILESAT 201 satellite|

1159​

|

8940​

+00:30:22|Separation of Sylda 5|

1473​

|

8700​

+00:32:43|Separation of RASCOM-QAF1R satellite|

1969​

|

8349​

+00:48:48|End of Arianespace Flight mission|

5982​

|

6252​

 

[Notebook]

Thats very nicely tabulated.

N.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Spaceflight Now: "Today's Ariane 5 rocket launch will benefit Africa".

Arianespace: "Ready for liftoff: Ariane 5 rolls out to the launch zone for its dual-payload flight".

---------- Post added at 08:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:57 PM ----------

NASASpaceFlight: "LIVE: Ariane 5 ECA set to launch with Nilesat-201 and RASCOM-QAF1R".

 

[orb]

Live launch coverage is on air on Arianespace's Videocorner.

T-11 minutes and counting.

---------- Post added at 22:56 ---------- Previous post was at 22:32 ----------

T-2 minutes and counting.

 

[N_Molson]

Looking good so far.

It's fun to hear the flight controllers speak in French The Mission Center is 2kms from where I live, in Toulouse, in the CNES buildings !

 

[IronRain]

can you see the Ariane 5?

 

[N_Molson]

There's an Ariane 5 in town, but that's a (full scale, quite impressive) mockup :lol:

Toulouse is in Europe (South of France), Kourou (Guyana) is a former french colony in South America Toulouse is the home of the whole french aerospace industry (Airbus, Arianespace), so all the engineers and specialists live there. That would be a waste to send them in South America every launch.

Edit : it's a little the same thing in Russia, where the Mission Control is in Moscow (TsUP) while the main launch site is in Kazakhstan, except that Guyana belongs to France.

---------- Post added at 09:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 PM ----------

Upper stage cut off nominally. The rocket is now on a transfer unpowered trajectory, though there will be orientation manoeuvers and minor correction course. We're now over South Africa, ready for the 1st sat separation.

---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 PM ----------

Successful separation of NILESAT 201, will be under control of the customer in 5 days.

---------- Post added at 09:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 PM ----------

Successful separation of RASCOM-QA (African telecommunications), will be powered up in 6 days, delivered under customer control in 42 days.

Altitude 1900 km, velocity 8.43 km/s, what remains of the upper stage is sent on a parking orbit, away from the sats.

Mission successful for the launcher !

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight.com altered the title and introduction of article about this launch -
"Ariane 5 ECA launches with Nilesat-201 and RASCOM-QAF1R":

Following a scrub-prone launch campaign in June, Arianespace have enjoyed first-time success with Wednesday’s launch of their Ariane 5 ECA vehicle – her third mission of the year. The workhorse has two telecommunication passengers – Nilesat-201 and RASCOM-QAF1R – and launched slightly after the start of the long launch window.

---------- Post added at 23:41 ---------- Previous post was at 23:37 ----------

Arianespace: The latest Ariane 5 success reinforces Arianespace's launch services leadership.

---------- Post added 5th Aug 2010 at 00:16 ---------- Previous post was 4th Aug 2010 at 23:41 ----------

Video replay of the launch from YouTube:

Launch of Ariane 5 flight V196

---------- Post added at 14:51 ---------- Previous post was at 00:16 ----------

Spaceflight Now: Ariane 5 rocket powers African satellites to orbit.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Space Travel: "Arianespace Launches Two Satellites".

RIA Novosti: "Ariane 5 delivers two communication satellites into orbit".

Space News: "Launch Gives Africa's Rascom a New Lease on Life".

Space News: "Arianespace Launches Two Satellites, Signs Pair of Contracts".