SATMEX 6 & THAICOM 5 placed in geostationary transfer orbits - May 27, 2006

The launch of SATMEX 6 and THICOM 5 to geostationary transfer orbit was successful today.

Watched the count-down at:
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http://www.videocorner.tv/index.php?langue=en
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For its second launch of the year, Arianespace will launch two communications satellites into geostationary transfer orbit: Satmex 6 for Mexico and Thaicom 5 for Thailand.
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Arianspace http://www.arianespace.com/site/index2.html
http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/releases/06_05_24_release_index.html

The Ariane 5 flight carried a record-setting payload mass, with the Thaicom 5 and Satmex 6 satellites' combined weight totaling nearly 8,200 kg.

Now the teams for the respective satellites will work on the final positioning of their satellites to geostationary orbit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostationary_orbit

They will join other satellites that are looking down at Earth from the equator.

http://www.satsig.net/sslist.htm
List of Satellites in Geostationary Orbit

And when you look up. :-)

http://www.satsig.net/geopics.htm
This is a photograph of several closely spaced geostationary orbit satellites around 259E/101W orbit longitude.

http://celestrak.com/columns/v04n07/
Basics of the Geostationary Orbit
By Dr. T.S. Kelso

More questions?
http://www.tech-faq.com/geostationary-satellite.shtml
What is a geostationary satellite?
TechFAQ


Thanks for looking up with me.

Larry Kellogg

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsltr.: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
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http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/sub_main_news_missionupdate.html
MISSION UPDATE
May 27, 2006

Ariane 5 enters the record books with another outstanding heavy-lift performance

Arianespace's Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher logged another flawless performance that delivered a record-setting dual-satellite payload into geostationary transfer orbit today.

Lifting off at the start of a 45-min. launch window that opened at 6:09 p.m., the vehicle climbed into the cloudy skies over Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana and completed its mission 32 minutes later.

The combined weight of Ariane 5's two satellite payloads -- Thaicom 5 and Satmex 6 - was 8,200 kg., marking a new record for satellite mass delivered into orbit. With this success, Arianespace has launched more than 230 satellites since the company pioneered the commercial launch services industry.

Despite the rainy conditions at liftoff, Ariane 5's ascent through the lower cloud layers was clearly visible as the Arianespace vehicle climbed out under the power of its cryogenic main engine and two solid rocket boosters.

Satmex 6 was deployed by Ariane 5 first, with its release occurring at 27 min. into the flight. It was followed five minutes later by the separation of Thaicom 6.

The second Ariane 5 ECA heavy-lift success in 2006

Today's success was Arianespace's second heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA mission in 2006, and the 23rd successful flight for the Ariane 5 launcher family. In just over nine months, a total of six Ariane 5s have been used by Arianespace to deliver a total of 11 satellites into geostationary transfer orbit.

Thaicom 5 was the fifth satellite orbited by Arianespace for Shin Satellite Public Company Limited, Thailand's private telecommunications operator. Thaicom 1 was launched in 1993, and was followed by the orbiting of the series' three subsequent spacecraft during 1994, 1997 and 2005.

To be located at an orbital position of 78.5 degrees East, the 2,760-kg. Thaicom 5 will be used for Ku-band and C-band telecommunications and television services throughout the Asia/Pacific region.

The Ariane 5 mission today also marked the fourth time that Mexico has relied on Arianespace to orbit communications satellites for the country. In addition to Satmex 6, Arianespace launched the Satmex 5 satellite in December 1998, along with Solidaridad 1 and 2 in November 1993 and 1994, respectively.

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Launch Kit
http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/sub_main_news_launchkit.html

Mission Update Archive
http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/sub_main_news_missionarchive.html

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The Ariane 5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_5

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ariane 5 is an European expendable launch system designed to deliver satellites into geostationary transfer orbit and to send payloads to low earth orbit.

It is manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency (ESA) with EADS SPACE Transportation as prime contractor, leading a consortium of sub-contractors. The rocket is operated and marketed by Arianespace as part of the Ariane programme. EADS SPACE Transportation builds the rockets in Europe and Arianespace launches them from a space port at Kourou in French Guiana.

It succeeded Ariane 4, but does not derive from it directly. Its development took 10 years and cost €7 billion. The ESA originally designed Ariane 5 to launch the manned mini shuttle Hermes, and thus intended it to be "human rated" from the beginning. After the ESA cancelled Hermes, the rocket became a purely commercial launcher.

Two satellites can be mounted using a Sylda carrier. Three main satellites are possible depending on size. Up to eight secondary payloads, usually small experiment packages or minisatellites, can be carried with an ASAP (Ariane Structure for Auxiliary Payloads) platform.

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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK

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