Launch News LIVE: Arianespace Flight VA240 Galileo FOC-M7 SAT 19-20-21-22 (Dec. 12, 18:36:07 UTC)

[Nicholas Kang]

Live in 2 hours!

Live webcast:

Launch Kit is available herehttp://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/VA240-launchkit-EN2.pdf.

Launch Overview:

PAYLOAD(S)|Four Galileo satellites
LAUNCH VEHICLE|Ariane 5 ES
CUSTOMER(S)|European Commission, European Space Agency (ESA)
STATUS|Upcoming
PRIME CONTRACTOR(S)|OHB System AG, SSTL
LAUNCH SITE|Spaceport, French Guiana (Guiana Space Center)
ORBIT|Medium-Earth orbit

Press Release

For its 11th launch of the year, and the sixth Ariane 5 liftoff from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in French Guiana during 2017, Arianespace will orbit four more satellites for the Galileo constellation.

This mission is being performed on behalf of the European Commission under a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA).

For the second time, an Ariane 5 ES version will be used to orbit satellites in Europe’s own satellite navigation system. At the completion of this flight, designated Flight VA240 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system, 22 Galileo spacecraft will have been launched by Arianespace with Soyuz and Ariane 5 launchers.

A final Ariane 5 ES mission will deploy four additional Galileo constellation satellites in 2018, after which Ariane 6 takes over from 2020-2021 – with its initial two Galileo launches contracted by ESA on behalf of the European Commission in September 2017.

The Flight VA240 will be from Ariane Launch Complex No. 3 (ELA 3) in Kourou, French Guiana.

The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) will take place on Friday, December 8, 2017 in Kourou, to authorize the start of operations for the final countdown.

ESA transferred formal responsibility for oversight of Galileo in-orbit operations to the GSA (European GNSS Agency) in July 2017.

Therefore, as of this launch, the GSA will be in charge of the operation of the Galileo satellite navigation systems on behalf of the European Union. GSA will be responsible for operating these satellites as soon as they separate from the launcher. Satellite positioning operations and system operation will be carried out in conjunction with ESA.

The Galileo satellites are built by prime contractor OHB System in Bremen, Germany, with the payloads supplied by UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), which is 99% owned by Airbus Defence and Space.

Launch Timeline:

Time | Events
T- 12H 8MN|Start of final countdown
T- 11H 23MN|Check of electrical systems
T- 04H 53MN|Start of filling of EPC with liquid oxygen and hydrogen
T- 04H 3MN|Chilldown of Vulcain main stage engine
T- 01H 10MN|Check of connections between launcher and the telemetry, tracking and command systems
T- 00H 7MN|“All systems go” report, allowing start of synchronized sequence
T- 00H 4MN|Tanks pressurized for flight
T- 00H 1MN|Switch to onboard power mode
T- 00H 4S|Onboard systems take over
LIFTOFF|00:00
T+ 00H 12S|End of vertical climb, beginning of pitch motion
T+ 00H 17S|Beginning of roll maneuver
T+ 00H 2MN 20S|EAP separation
T+ 00H 3MN 44S|Fairing jettisoned
T+ 00H 8MN 55S|End of EPC thrust phase
T+ 00H 9MN 1S|EPC separation
T+ 00H 9MN 8S|EPS ignition
T+ 00H 19MN 58S|Shutdown of EPS (first boost) and beginning of the 1st ballistic phase
T+ 03H 27MN 50S|EPS ignition
T+ 03H 34MN 8S|Shutdown of EPS (second boost) and beginning of the 2nd ballistic phase
T+ 03H 35MN 45S|Separation of the Galileo satellites 19 and 21
T+ 03H 55MN 45S|Separation of the Galileo satellites 20 and 22
T+ 04H 9MN 18S|Upper stage passivation
T+ 04H 40MN 52S|End of the Arianespace mission

Gallery:

Two of the four Galileo satellites are shown being installed on their dispenser system.

Ariane 5’s vehicle equipment bay is lowered for installation.

The Ariane 5 payload fairing is lowered over the four Galileo satellite passengers, which are installed atop the launcher’s central core.

Integration of Ariane 5’s four Galileo satellite passengers on the multi-payload dispenser system.

 

[Notebook]

http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2017/12/Galileo_19-22_-_liftoff_replay

Title Galileo 19-22 - liftoff replay
Released: 12/12/2017
Length 00:03:10
Language English
Footage Type Live Footage
Copyright ESA/CNES/Arianespace
Description
Europe’s 19th, 20th, 21th and 22th Galileo satellites lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana atop an Ariane 5 launcher.