Astrium’s Ariane 5 Mates, Stacks + Stands Ready for a Heavy- Lift (Launch)

[SatNews] Satellites in this next launch represent several nations…

The launcher for Ariane 5’s next heavy-lift flight is ready for rollout to the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, where it will be delivered to Arianespace for installation of the mission’s dual-passenger payload.

This vehicle was built up in the Launcher Integration Building by Astrium Space Transportation, which is the Ariane 5 prime contractor and integrator.

During the integration activity, Ariane 5’s basic assembly was performed, beginning with the mating of its two solid-propellant strap-on boosters to the core cryogenic stage.  This was followed by placement atop the core cryogenic stage of a combined unit containing the cryogenic upper stage and vehicle equipment bay.

With the completion of its initial checkout process, the launcher for Arianespace’s August 29 mission, designated Flight VA215 in the company’s launcher family numbering system, is awaiting its transfer to the Spaceport Final Assembly Building, previously occupied by Flight VA214’s Ariane 5, which lifted off from the Spaceport on July 25.

Flight VA215 is to carry two communications relay satellites: EUTELSAT 25B/Es’hail 1 and GSAT-7.

Riding in the upper position of Ariane 5’s payload “stack” will be EUTELSAT 25B/Es’hail 1, a Space Systems/Loral-built spacecraft to serve European telecommunications operator Eutelsat and Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company.  

The mission’s lower passenger is India’s GSAT-7, a satellite developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation and fitted with payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band.