2nd Ariane 5 for Launch in 2010 Completes its Initial Build-Up

(March 10, 2010) -- Arianespace's mission pace for its heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA is supported by a high level of activity at the Spaceport in French Guiana, where the second launch vehicle for 2010 has now completed its initial build-up.

During activity in the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building, the heavy-lift Ariane 5 was fitted with its ESC-A upper stage and the vehicle equipment bay - which were installed as a single unit. This combined integration step is part of the streamlining introduced in Ariane 5's build-up process to optimize the preparation workflow and support Arianespace's flight rate.


Once additional integration and checkout steps are completed, the Ariane 5 will be ready for its transfer from the Launcher Integration Building to the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building, where it will be fitted with the mission's dual-satellite payload.

The passengers for this upcoming flight - designated V195, for the 195th mission of an Ariane family vehicle - will be the Arabsat 5A and COMS satellites.

Arabsat 5A is the initial fifth-generation spacecraft for Arabsat, which is one of the Arab world's leading satellite services providers. This relay platform is designed to handle a full range of satellite communications services over sub-Saharan Africa, the North Africa and Middle East (MENA) region, and beyond.

COMS is a multi-mission satellite for the Korea Aerospace and Research Institute of South Korea, and carries payloads for meteorology, ocean observation and communications.

Liftoff of the Ariane 5 with COMS and Arabsat 5A is targeted for late April. This will follow the March 24 launch of Arianespace's first Ariane 5 ECA of 2010, which currently is in the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building awaiting the integration of its ASTRA 3B and COMSATBw-2 satellite payloads.

Arianespace is planning a total of seven Ariane 5 missions this year.

Source : Arianespace