Lifting off from the Spaceport in French Guiana, this Ariane 5 ECA version successfully orbited the ASTRA 3B commercial telecommunications satellite for Luxembourg-based SES ASTRA, along with the COMSATBw-2 secure military relay spacecraft for Astrium GmbH on behalf of the German Bundeswehr (armed forces). With today’s mission, Arianespace’s workhorse heavy-lift launch vehicle has lofted payloads weighing a combined total of more than 300,000 kg. since its maiden liftoff in 1996. During the past 50 flights, Ariane 5s have carried commercial telecommunications satellites; military relay, reconnaissance and early warning spacecraft; Earth observation platforms and meteorological satellites; scientific space probes, experimental and developmental payloads, and the first Automated Transfer Vehicle for servicing of the International Space Station. “And this success will continue: after today’s flight Arianespace’s order book still has 34 geostationary orbit satellites to launch – which is a new record – along with six missions with the ATV [Automated Transfer Vehicle] and 17 launches for Soyuz,” said Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall in post-launch comments at the Spaceport’s mission control center. “Since the start of 2010, Arianespace already has signed seven new contracts, with several others now in advanced negotiations.” This evening’s mission with ASTRA 3B and COMSATBw-2 was the 194th flight of an Ariane family launcher since 1979. Payload lift performance for the launch was approximately 9,115 kg. – which included 7,970 kg. for the two satellites, plus the associated integration hardware and the launcher’s SYLDA 5 dual-payload dispenser system.
