Slated For Launch On November 17

Arianespace has entered the final phase of preparations for its next Ariane 5 launch – which will be the company’s first heavy-lift mission to orbit satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation constellation.

During activity in the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, Arianespace “topped off” the Ariane 5 launcher with installation of the payload fairing over the four Galileo spacecraft and their payload dispenser.

With Ariane 5 now complete, it is being readied for rollout next week to the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch complex in advance of its November 17 flight, which is set for liftoff at exactly 10:06:48 a.m. local time in French Guiana.

This mission – designated Flight VA233 in Arianespace’s numbering system – will deploy the quartet of Galileo spacecraft over the course of a nearly four-hour flight.

For the Galileo program, Arianespace is using the Ariane 5 ES version with an enhanced storable propellant upper stage that allows for reignition and long coast phases during the mission.

These upgrades maximize the launcher’s performance for deploying the Galileo spacecraft – which will have a combined mass of 2,865 kg. at liftoff – two at a time into a circular medium-Earth orbit.

As a European initiative to develop a new global satellite navigation system under civilian control, Galileo will offer a guaranteed, high-precision positioning service that will end Europe’s dependence on the American GPS system.

The Galileo constellation will comprise 24 operational satellites, along with spares. Arianespace already has deployed 14 Galileo in-orbit validation and full operational capability spacecraft from French Guiana on seven medium-lift Soyuz missions, along with performing two other Soyuz flights from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia with the GIOVE-A and GIOVE-B experimental satellites.

Galileo is funded by the European Union. It features innovative technologies developed in Europe for the benefit of all citizens. The European Commission holds overall responsibility for Galileo’s management and implementation, with the European Space Agency assigned design and development of the new generation of systems and infrastructure.

(Image provided with Arianespace news release)

FMI: www.arianespace.com