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07-16-20

JWST and Ariane V

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NASA dicit:

This video shows how NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is designed to fold to a much smaller size in order to fit inside the Ariane V rocket for launch to space. The largest, most complex space observatory ever built, must fold itself to fit within a 17.8-foot (5.4-meter) payload fairing, and survive the rigors of a rocket ride to orbit. After liftoff, the entire observatory will unfold in a carefully choreographed series of steps before beginning to make groundbreaking observations of the cosmos.

Video credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

 

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09-28-18

Ariane 6 Launch Table

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ESA dixit:

“The 700 tonne steel table that will support Ariane 6 at liftoff was transferred to the pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 10 September 2018. It is so large that it arrived in parts by ship in February and was then welded together and fitted with equipment at a preparation area 250 m from the launch pad.

Moving this giant 4 m high, 20 m long and 18 m wide table to its permanent position on the centre of the pad is complex. Four hydraulic jacks lifted the table then two trollies moved the table to the edge of the launch pad. A temporary railway and a mechanical guidance system helped roll the table into position over the centre of the pad where it will be lowered with millimeter precision into its final position. Further mechanical, fluidic and electrical equipment will be installed inside and outside the table.”

Video Credit: ESA / CNES

 

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03-7-18

Ariane 6 Launch Site

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ESA dixit:

“At Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, everything is being prepared to accommodate Europe’s newest launcher, Ariane 6. A new launch pad is under construction and the mobile gantry protecting the launcher will soon be visible. The new assembly building dimensions can now be fully seen as the outer shell is almost complete.

Ariane 6 will guarantee Europe’s independent access to space and should consolidate Arianespace’s leading role on the satellites launch market. The first Ariane 6 launch is scheduled for July 2020.”

Video credit: ESA

 

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ESA dixit:

“The first hot firing of Ariane 6’s Vulcain 2.1 main engine was performed in January 2018 at the DLR German Aerospace Center test facility in Lampoldshausen, Germany.

The engine, developed by ArianeGroup, has a simplified and more robust nozzle, a gas generator made through additive manufacturing, and an oxygen heater for oxygen tank pressurisation. These features lower the cost of the engine and simplify manufacturing.”

Video credit: Ariane Group

 

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12-19-17

Galileo 19-22 Liftoff

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Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system performed a giant leap nearer completion on Tuesday 12 December, as four more Galileo satellites were launched into orbit by Ariane 5.

Liftoff from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana took place at 18:36 UTC (19:36 CET, 15:36 local time), carrying Galileo satellites 19–22. Separation of the upper stage occurred about nine minutes after liftoff, followed by the first firing of the upper stage. The upper stage – carrying four 715-kg Galileo satellites – flew in ballistic configuration for three hours and eight minutes, after which a second upper stage firing placed it into circular separation orbit. Once stabilised at 3h 35 min after liftoff, the Galileo dispenser released the first two satellites, followed by the second pair 20 minutes later.

At orbital injection the launcher attained an altitude of 22 925 km, approximately 300 km below the Galileo satellites’ operational altitude. The four satellites manoeuvred themselves up to this height, leaving the passivated upper stage safely in a ‘graveyard orbit’.

Video credit: ESA

 

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12-7-17

Ariane 6

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ESA dixit:

“ESA and European industry are currently developing a new-generation launcher: Ariane 6. This follows the decision taken at the ESA Council meeting at Ministerial level in December 2014, to maintain Europe’s leadership in the fast-changing commercial launch service market while responding to the needs of European institutional missions. This move is associated with a change in the governance of the European launcher sector, based on a sharing of responsibility, cost and risk by ESA and industry.

The participating states are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The overarching aim of Ariane 6 is to provide guaranteed access to space for Europe at a competitive price without requiring public sector support for exploitation. Different concepts have been examined for Ariane 6 such as single- and dual-payloads, solid or cryogenic propulsion for the main stage, and the number of stages (three or more), all to cover a wide range of missions: GEO, either directly or through intermediate orbits, in particular GTO and LEO; Polar/SSO; MEO or MTO.

The targeted payload performance of Ariane 6 is over 4.5 t for polar/Sun-synchronous orbit missions at 800 km altitude and the injection of two first-generation Galileo satellites. Ariane 6 can loft a payload mass of 4.5–10.5 tonnes in equivalent geostationary transfer orbit.

The exploitation cost of the Ariane 6 launch system is its key driver. Launch service costs will be halved, while maintaining reliability by reusing the trusted engines of Ariane 5. The first flight is scheduled for 2020.”

Video credit: ESA

 

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