Arianespace is keeping up the mission pace at its French Guiana spaceport with
the acceptance of another heavy-lift Ariane 5 rocket, which now is
being readied for the integration of a dual-satellite payload to be
orbited on July 25.
Designated
Flight VA214 (signifying the 214th liftoff of an Ariane-series
vehicle), the mission will mark the 70th launch of an Ariane 5. The
vehicle will carry the INSAT-3D meteorological satellite along with
the Alphasat communications relay platform.
INSAT-3D
INSAT-3D
was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and
carries weather forecasting payloads along with a search and rescue
relay system. Its liftoff mass will be approximately 2,100 kilograms.
As
part of the pre-launch checkout process, INSAT-3D underwent a test
deployment of its solar panels in the spaceport’s clean room
facilities – which is a typical checkout step performed by ISRO
with its satellites once they are in French Guiana.
Alphasat
Riding
as co-passenger on the upcoming Ariane 5 flight is Europe’s
Alphasat, which is ranked as one of the world’s most sophisticated
communications satellites. Alphasat carries a new-generation advanced
mobile L-band communications payload along with four technological
demonstration payloads for the European Space Agency (ESA).
Built
by Astrium, Alphasat will have a mass of more than six metric tons at
launch, and is to be operated under an agreement between the ESA and
European commercial satellite operator Inmarsat.
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