Arianespace’s second Ariane 5 flight of 2014 has been approved for its March 21 liftoff following a successful launch readiness review, which was performed at the Spaceport in French Guiana.
The review is held prior to each Ariane 5 mission, ensuring that the heavy-lift vehicle and its payload are flight-ready, along with the Spaceport’s infrastructure and the network of downrange tracking stations.
With today’s “green light,” Ariane 5 is now cleared for its March 20 rollout from the Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone, where it will be readied for liftoff on Friday during a launch window opening at 7:05 pm local time in French Guiana.
The payload lift performance for Arianespace’s latest Ariane 5 mission is more than 9,575 kg., which includes some 8,755 kg. for its two satellite passengers – Astra 5B and Amazonas 4A – along with the launcher’s dual-payload dispenser system and satellite integration hardware.
Riding in the Ariane 5 payload “stack’s” upper position is Astra 5B, which was built by Airbus Defence and Space for SES, and will operate from a 31.5 degrees East orbital slot. Based on the Eurostar E3000 platform, this spacecraft will be deployed first during the 34-minute flight sequence and is outfitted with 40 Ku-band and 6 Ka-band transponders.
Amazonas 4A is installed in the payload stack’s lower position, and its deployment by Ariane 5 will mark the mission’s completion. The Orbital Sciences Corporation-produced satellite, which is equipped with 24 Ku-band transponders, will be operated by Hispasat from an orbital position of 61 degrees West.
