Preparations Continue for Arianespace's Fourth Ariane 5 Mission of 2009

Both payloads for Arianespace's next Ariane 5 flight have been fueled at the Spaceport as preparations continue for the workhorse vehicle's fourth heavy-lift launch of 2009 from French Guiana.

Propellant loading of the JCSAT-12 and Optus D3 spacecraft was performed in separate activity at the Spaceport's S5 satellite preparation facility, readying these relay platforms for their integration with the Ariane 5.


The upcoming Ariane 5 mission is scheduled for later this month, and carries this pair of U.S.-manufactured spacecraft for two of Arianespace's Asia-Pacific customers.

JCSAT-12 is a high-power hybrid relay platform that will provide coverage of Japan, the Asia-Pacific region and Hawaii with 30 active Ku-band transponders and 12 active C-band transponders. Built in Newtown, Pennsylvania by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems with the company's A2100 spacecraft bus, it is to be operated by Japan's SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation - which is one of Asia's largest satellite operators.

The Optus D3 payload was produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation at its Dulles, Virginia manufacturing facility using the company's STAR-2 platform.
It will be utilized by the Australian Optus telecommunications provider, and is equipped with 24 active Ku-band transponders for fixed communications and direct television broadcasting services to Australia and New Zealand.

A total of seven Ariane 5 missions are planned in 2009 - the busiest year ever for Arianespace's heavy-lift launcher.

Source : European Space Agency (ESA)