Arianespace has scheduled its first commercial flight of Europe's new Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher for December 10. This mission, designated Flight 119/AR 504, is to carry the European Space Agency's XMM scientific satellite, and will be performed from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
The flight will mark an industry milestone, with Ariane 5 becoming the first new-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle to enter commercial service. Ariane 5 was qualified for commercial operations after its third validation mission, conducted in October 1998.
Arianespace plans to perform as many as six commercial Ariane 5 launches in 2000.
Launch campaign planning: activity resumed October 20 in Kourou
October 20 Resumption of campaign — Launcher reactivated in the launcher integration building. Launcher re-configuration begins for a single satellite payload with XMM.
November 19 Transfer of launcher to the final assembly building
November 25 XMM satellite integrated on Ariane 504 launcher
December 6 General rehearsal
December 9 Transfer to launch zone
December 10 Final countdown
These dates are provided for information purposes, and may be adjusted according scheduling of the upcoming Ariane 4 launch campaigns: Flight 123/GE- 4, set for November 13; and Flight 124/Helios 1B, planned for early December.
The next launch : Flight 123, a mission for GE American Communications
The next Arianespace launch, Flight 123, is slated for November 13. An Ariane 44LP will loft the GE-4 television satellite for GE American Communications. Following Flight 122, and the two launch contracts signed at Telecom Geneva '99, for Astra 2D and NSS-7, Arianespace's backlog now stands at 43 satellites to be launched.
