Eutelsat 25B (Eurobird 2A,Eshail 1),GSAT 7 - Ariane 5 ECA (VA215)- Куру ELA-3 - 28.08.2013 20:30 UTC

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1054.asp

The core cryogenic stage for Ariane 5's VA215 launcher (at right) is unloaded from a sea-going ship that arrived in French Guiana this week.

[Salo]

http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/eutelsat-25b_eshail-1.htm

Eutelsat 25B / Es'hail 1
 

Eutelsat 25B / Es'hail 1 [SSL]

Eutelsat Communications and ictQATAR (representing the State of Qatar) announced in July 2010 that Space Systems/Loral has been sel ected to build the high-performance satellite they will jointly own and operate at the 25.5° East location in geostationary orbit. The joint satellite will be named Eurobird 2A / Es'hail 1.

The selection of prime contractor marks the next step forward in the partnership signed in May by Eutelsat and ictQATAR to invest in and operate a high-capacity satellite at 25.5° East, one of the two longstanding and anchored neighbourhoods serving rapidly expanding markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia regions. The two organisations sel ected Space Systems/Loral to deliver a spacecraft with a more than 15-year design life based on the Space Systems/Loral 1300 satellite bus, which is a decades-proven, modular platform with high power capability and flexibility for a broad range of applications.

To enter into service in early 2013, this powerful satellite will provide a significantly expanded mission and superior coverage across Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia to follow on from Eutelsat's Eurobird 2 satellite, which is currently operated at 25.5° East. In addition to securing Ku-band continuity for Eutelsat and additional Ku-band resources for ictQATAR, it will initiate a Ka-band capability to open business opportunities for both parties. The spacecraft's multi-mission architecture will enable ictQATAR and Eutelsat to respond to demand for the fastest-growing applications in the Middle East and North Africa, including video broadcasting, enterprise communications and government services. The television market will in particular benefit from the installed base of more than 13 million satellite homes already equipped for Direct-to-Home reception fr om this neighbourhood.

In December 2011 Eutelsat announced, that their satellite assets will be renamed under a unified brand name effective fr om March 2012. This satellite will become Eutelsat 25B / Es'hail 1.

Nation:    International
Type / Application:    Communication
Operator:    Eutelsat, ictQatar
Contractors:    Space Systems/Loral (SS/L)
Equipment:    Ku- and Ka-band transponders
Configuration:    LS-1300
Propulsion:    ?
Power:    2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime:    15 years
Mass:    
Orbit:    GEO

[Salo]

Масса Eutelsat 25B около шести тонн.

[Salo]

http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/gsat-7.htm

GSat 7, 7A (Insat 4F)

GSAT-7 / INSAT-4F is a multi-band satellite carrying payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band. It is planned to be launched during 2011 onboard GSLV and positioned at 74º East. The satellite weighs 2330 kg with a payload power of 2000W and mission life of 9 years.

INSAT-4 series is planned to have seven satellites, INSAT-4A through INSAT-4G with INSAT-4D as a spare. The transponder capacity of this series has been worked out after evaluating the requirement projected by different uses/user departments. It is planned that, by 2007, INSAT system will have about 250 transponders in various bands catering to a demand of up to 11 Giga Bits Per Second (GBPS) capacity.

Nation:    India
Type / Application:    Communication
Operator:    Insat
Contractors:    ISRO
Equipment:    UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band transponders
Configuration:    I-2K (I-2000) Bus
Propulsion:    440 Newton thrust liquid apogee motor
Power:    2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime:    9 years
Mass:    2550 kg
Orbit:    GEO

[Salo]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/arianespace-to-launch-indias-insat-3d-spacecraft-on-july-26/articleshow/20573330.cms

India has also contracted Arianespace to launch (expected in August) GSAT-7, a multi-band satellite carrying payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band. The satellite employs the standard 2000 kg class bus (I-2K) platform with power handling capability of around 3000 W and lift-off mass of 2550 kg.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1065.asp

Another Ariane 5 launcher takes shape at the Spaceport

July 11, 2013 – Ariane Flight VA215

The Ariane 5 for Arianespace's fourth heavy-lift mission in 2013 is coming together at the Spaceport as initial build-up procedures involving this workhorse vehicle are performed at French Guiana.

Located inside the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building, the Ariane 5 ECA version began taking shape this month during a multi-step process that opened with positioning of the vehicle's cryogenic core stage over its mobile launch table. The two solid propellant boosters then were mated to the core stage, followed by installation of the cryogenic upper stage and vehicle equipment bay – which were pre-integrated as a single component.

It is the 71st Ariane 5 to undergo build-up at the Spaceport to date, using procedures that have become routine with this launcher's operations from French Guiana. The upcoming mission is designated Flight VA215 in Arianespace's numbering system – signifying the 215th Ariane-series vehicle since the family's operational start-up in December 1979.

As Arianespace's fourth heavy-lift launch in 2013 from the Spaceport, Flight VA215 will continue the year's Ariane 5 mission activity that began in February on a dual-payload flight with the Amazonas 3 and Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellites, followed by an on-target deployment of Europe's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle in June for servicing of the International Space Station.

Complementing the 2013 activity to date were a pair of medium-lift Soyuz flights – one from the Spaceport in June with four O3b Networks spacecraft; and the other in February from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, conducted by Arianespace's Starsem affiliate to orbit six Globalstar second-generation satellites. In addition, the lightweight Vega performed a mission at the Spaceport in May, deploying the Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 payloads.

Preparations for the third Ariane 5 flight this year are proceeding in parallel at the Spaceport, building toward a July 25 liftoff with two satellite passengers: the Indian INSAT-3D meteorological platform and Europe's Alphasat telecommunications spacecraft.


Key steps in the initial build-up of Arianespace's fourth Ariane 5 for launch in 2013 are highlighted in the photos above. The core cryogenic stage for Flight VA215 is raised for positioning over its mobile launch table,


while one of the vehicle's two solid propellant boosters rolls out for mating with the core stage.


The photo shows Ariane 5 after installation of its "upper composite" section, consisting of the cryogenic upper stage and vehicle equipment bay.

[Salo]

http://www.frontline.in/science-and-technology/in-mission-mode/article4945199.ece?homepage=true

The next mission is the GSAT-7 communication satellite. That will be launched from French Guiana on August 22.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1073.asp

Another Ariane 5 mission is readied at the Spaceport for Arianespace

July 24, 2013 – Ariane Flight VA215

Arianespace is keeping up the Ariane 5 cadence as momentum builds for its next flight – which will orbit another of the heavy-lift launcher's dual-passenger payloads.

This mission, designated Flight VA215 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system, is to carry the Eutelsat 25B/Es'hail-1 and GSAT-7 telecommunications satellites.

Flight VA215's heavy-lift vehicle has completed its initial build-up in the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building for Ariane 5, and soon will be transferred to the Final Assembly Building to receive its payloads. The Final Assembly Building became available this morning when the Ariane 5 for Arianespace's Flight VA214 rolled out to the launch zone for a liftoff tomorrow.

GSAT-7 has now begun its checkout at the Spaceport to confirm the multi-band satellite's readiness with payloads in the UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-bands. Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation, it utilizes India's standard I-2K bus – the same as employed for the Indian INSAT-3D satellite, which is only hours away from liftoff on Arianespace's VA214 mission.

The GSAT-7 spacecraft's mass at liftoff is estimated at 2,550 kg., and its power handling capability is rated at approximately 3,000 Watts.  After being deployed by Ariane 5, the satellite will operate from an orbital position of 74 deg. East.

Joining the Indian satellite on Arianespace's VA215 mission will be EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1, built by SSL for Eutelsat and Es'hailSat – The Qatar Satellite Company.  Weighing more than 6,000 kg. at liftoff, this platform was conceived to provide direct broadcast services (DBS) to expanding markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia regions.

EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 will replace Eutelsat's EUROBIRD 2 satellite at 25.5 deg. East. In addition to ensuing Ku-band continuity for Eutelsat and providing additional Ku-band resources for the Qatar Satellite Company, the spacecraft will initiate a Ka-band capability to open business opportunities for both companies.


The GSAT-7 satellite is readied for the startup of its pre-launch checkout in the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation facility.

[Salo]

29 августа.

[che wi]

Здесь указано стартовое окно: 20.30 UTC – 21.20 UTC

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1077.asp

The second satellite arrives for Arianespace's upcoming heavy-lift Ariane 5 launch

July 29, 2013 – Ariane Flight VA215

Payload preparations for Arianespace's next Ariane 5 mission are moving into their full pace with the delivery of its second passenger – EUTELSAT 25B/ Es'hail 1 – to French Guiana, joining GSAT-7, which arrived earlier this month.

The EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 spacecraft was transported to South America aboard an Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner, which landed on July 27 at Félix Eboué Airport near the French Guiana capital city of Cayenne.  After the unloading process – aided by the giant aircraft's tilt-up nose and its forward "kneeling" capability – the protective container with EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 was readied for transportation by road to the Spaceport, some 65 kilometers away.

Built by SSL in the U.S., this satellite will assist European telecommunications operator Eutelsat and Qatar's Es'hailSat satellite company in responding to demand for the fastest-growing applications in the Middle East and North Africa – including video broadcasting, enterprise communications and government services.

In addition to securing Ku-band continuity for Eutelsat and additional Ku-band resources for Es'hailSat, EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 will initiate a Ka-band capability that opens business opportunities for both parties.

The spacecraft is based on SSL's proven 1300 satellite bus, and will provide a follow-on to the EUTELSAT 25C satellite, which currently is operated at 25.5° East.  Liftoff mass of EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 will be more than 6,000 kg.

For Arianespace's upcoming Ariane 5 flight, targeted for August 29, EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 is to ride in the upper position of the heavy-lift launcher's payload "stack."

Located below it will be the Indian GSAT-7 telecommunications satellite, which arrived in French Guiana on July 11 and has been undergoing checkout in the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation facility.

With an estimated liftoff mass of 2,650 kg., GSAT-7 was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation and carries relay payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band.

GSAT-7 and EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 will be lofted by Flight VA215, as designated in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system, signifying the 215th mission with the Ariane series of launch vehicles.

It will be the fourth heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission in 2013, and follows last week's on-target Flight VA214, which orbited Alphasat, the largest telecommunications platform ever built by Europe, along with India's INSAT-3D meteorological platform – which uses the same basic spacecraft bus as GSAT-7.

In addition to the three Ariane 5 liftoffs performed so far this year by Arianespace at the Spaceport, the company's other launch vehicles also have been active.  Its medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega performed one launch each from French Guiana, while Arianespace's Starsem affiliate conducted a Soyuz mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

As a result, the combined flights of these three Arianespace family launchers have orbited a total of 18 payloads to date in 2013.


With the An-124 tilt nose opened and the jetliner in its "kneeling" position, the protective container with EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 is unloaded at Cayenne's Félix Eboué Airport.


The EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 container is rigged for its hoisting from the unloading ramp to a flatbed trailer after arrival at Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana.  Once this action is completed, the satellite will be transferred by road to the Spaceport.

[Space Alien]

Preparations at the Spaceport begin with EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 for Arianespace's next Ariane 5 flight



Pre-launch checkout is now underway at the Spaceport with EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1, which is one of two satellite passengers to be orbited on Arianespace's fourth heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission of 2013.
Following its arrival in French Guiana by cargo aircraft last weekend, the spacecraft emerged from its protective shipping container inside the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation facility to begin processing for a targeted August 29 launch.
This satellite – built by U.S.-based Space Systems/Loral (SSL) – will secure Ku-band continuity for European telecommunications operator Eutelsat and additional Ku-band resources for Es'hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, as well as initiate Ka-band capability to open business opportunities for the two operators.
In serving both Eutelsat and Es'hailSat, the relay platform will help respond to the demand for the fastest-growing applications in the Middle East and North Africa – including video broadcasting, enterprise communications and government services.
Based on SSL's 1300 platform, EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 has four steerable spot beam antennas and four deployable reflectors, along with advanced command and telemetry capabilities, and is designed for a service life of 15 years or more.
EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 will be in the upper position of the payload "stack" for August's dual-passenger Ariane 5 launch, joined by India's GSAT-7 telecommunications satellite in the lower slot. G-SAT 7 was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation and carries relay payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band.
As the 215th launch to date with the Ariane series of vehicles, this mission will be the sixth from French Guiana in 2013 with Arianespace's family of launchers. It is to follow the three Ariane 5 liftoffs, performed in July, June and February; along with one flight each for the medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega, performed in June and May, respectively. Arianespace's Starsem affiliate conducted a Soyuz flight from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan during February.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1078.asp

[Space Alien]

Arianespace's next Ariane 5 is readied for the transfer to receive its dual-satellite payload



The launcher for Ariane 5's next heavy-lift flight is ready for rollout to the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building, where it will be delivered to Arianespace for installation of the mission's dual-passenger payload.

This vehicle was built up in the Launcher Integration Building by Astrium Space Transportation, which is the Ariane 5 prime contractor and integrator.

During the integration activity, Ariane 5's basic assembly was performed, beginning with the mating of its two solid-propellant strap-on boosters to the core cryogenic stage. This was followed by placement atop the core cryogenic stage of a combined unit containing the cryogenic upper stage and vehicle equipment bay.

With the completion of its initial checkout process, the launcher for Arianespace's August 29 mission – designated Flight VA215 in the company's launcher family numbering system – is awaiting its transfer to the Spaceport Final Assembly Building, previously occupied by Flight VA214's Ariane 5, which lifted off from the Spaceport on July 25.

Flight VA215 is to carry two communications relay satellites: EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 and GSAT-7.

Riding in the upper position of Ariane 5's payload "stack" will be EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1, a Space Systems/Loral-built spacecraft to serve European telecommunications operator Eutelsat and Es'hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company.

The mission's lower passenger is India's GSAT-7, a satellite developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation and fitted with payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1079.asp

[Liss]

A0233/13 - RESTRICTED AREA SOR4 ACTIVATED. 28 AUG 09:00 2013 UNTIL 08 SEP 21:50 2013. CREATED: 30 JUL 13:51 2013

A0234/13 - DANGEROUS AREA SOD3 ACTIVATED. DAILY:1930-2220, 29 AUG 19:30 2013 UNTIL 08 SEP 22:20 2013. CREATED: 30 JUL 13:57 2013

A0235/13 - TEMPORARY DANGEROUS AREA ACTIVATED DUE TO ROCKET LAUNCHING ARIANE ZA/VA215 LATERAL LIMITS AS FOLLOWS QUADRILATERAL: 0516N04732W 0446N04734W 0448N04834W 0519N04833W. AMSL - UNL, DAILY 1930-2220, 29 AUG 19:30 2013 UNTIL 08 SEP 22:20 2013. CREATED: 30 JUL 14:07 2013

A0236/13 - TEMPORARY DANGEROUS AREA ACTIVATED DUE TO ROCKET LAUNCHING ARIANE ZB/VA215 LATERAL LIMITS AS FOLLOWS QUADRILATERAL: 0500N04548W 0443N04549W 0450N04733W 0506N04732W. AMSL - UNL, DAILY 1930-2220, 29 AUG 19:30 2013 UNTIL 08 SEP 22:20 2013. CREATED: 30 JUL 14:12 2013

N0027/13 - TEMPO RESTRICTED AREA 0447N04834W, 0454N04834W, 0459N04759W, 0458N04547W, 0443N04548W ACT. MSL - UNL, DLY 1930/2220, 29 AUG 19:30 2013 UNTIL 08 SEP 22:20 2013. CREATED: 05 AUG 17:24 2013

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1082.asp

The EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 spacecraft is prepared for its integration on Ariane 5
 
August 9, 2013 – Ariane Flight VA215

Payload processing for Arianespace's next dual-passenger Ariane 5 flight is moving forward as the EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 satellite is readied for its upcoming liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana.


EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 is shown during its fit-check process, which occurred inside the Spaceport's S1B clean room facility.

This relay platform – built by Space Systems/Loral (SSL) based on the company's 1300 satellite bus – made initial contact with Ariane 5 launcher hardware during activity inside the Spaceport's S1B clean room facility. The step involved EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1's fit-check with its cone-shaped payload adapter, which serves as the spacecraft's interface with Ariane 5.
After deployment by Ariane 5, EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 will assist European telecommunications operator Eutelsat and Es'hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, in responding to demand for the fastest-growing applications in the Middle East and North Africa – including video broadcasting, enterprise communications and government services. In addition, it will initiate a Ka-band capability that opens business opportunities for both parties.
EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 is equipped with four steerable spot beam antennas and four deployable reflectors, along with advanced command and telemetry capabilities, and it will provide a follow-on to the EUTELSAT 25C satellite – which currently is operated at 25.5° East.
With a liftoff mass of more than 6,000 kg., EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 will ride in the upper position of Ariane 5's payload "stack," with the Indian GSAT-7 communications satellite – which also has been undergoing checkout activities at the Spaceport – located below it. GSAT-7 was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation and carries relay payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band.
 This upcoming launch – targeted for August 29 – is designated Flight VA215 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system, signifying the 215th mission with the Ariane series of launch vehicles.

[Space Alien]

Ariane 5 and EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 are transferred for the next phase of preparations with Arianespace's upcoming launch


The launch campaign for Arianespace's fourth Ariane 5 flight of 2013 has moved into the next phase of preparation as its heavy-lift workhorse is now in the Final Assembly Building at French Guiana, and the larger of its two payloads has been positioned for fueling.

Ariane 5's transfer fr om the Launcher Integration Building – wh ere it was assembled by industrial prime contractor Astrium Space Transportation – to the Final Assembly Building marks the vehicle's formal delivery to Arianespace, which has responsibility for integrating the dual-passenger payload, followed by the launch and delivery into geostationary transfer orbit.  The launcher's transfer process used a dual rail system that links the two buildings together, and also enables the completed Ariane 5's rollout to the ELA-3 launch zone.
This upcoming mission, designated VA215 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system, will loft the EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 and GSAT-7 communications satellites.
Hours before the Ariane 5's rollout to the Final Assembly Building, EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 was moved from the Spaceport's S1B clean room facility – having completed its pre-launch checkout – to the S5 payload preparation center for fueling.  This repositioning was made by road with the large CCU3 spacecraft transportation container, which has an inflatable airtight docking seal to facilitate the relocation process.


Once fueled, EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 will have a liftoff mass of more than 6,000 kg.  The satellite is to provide Ku-band relay capacity for European telecommunications operator Eutelsat and Qatar's Es'hailSat Satellite Company in meeting demand for fast-growing applications in the Middle East and North Africa, including video broadcasting, enterprise communications and government services.  In addition, it will initiate a Ka-band capability that opens business opportunities for both users.


EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 was built by Space Systems/Loral (SSL) based on the spacecraft manufacturer's 1300 satellite bus, and is to ride in the upper position of Ariane 5's payload "stack."  Below it will be Flight VA215's co-passenger, the Indian Space Research Organisation's GSAT-7, with an estimated liftoff mass of 2,550 kg.



http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1083.asp

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1084.asp

EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 is "topped off" for Arianespace's Ariane 5 mission on August 29
 
 August 14, 2013 – Ariane Flight VA215
Fueling is underway at the Spaceport with EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 – the largest of two satellite passengers for Arianespace's next Ariane 5 mission, scheduled to lift off from French Guiana late this month.
The satellite is being "topped off" in the S5A fueling and integration hall of the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation center, marking another step in this spacecraft's pre-launch processing.


 EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 receives its fuel load in the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation center as the satellite is readied for Arianespace's upcoming dual-passenger Ariane 5 mission.
 
EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 was built by Space Systems/Loral (SSL) for two users: European telecommunications operator Eutelsat Communications and Qatar's Es'hailSat Satellite Company; with the high-power, multi-mission relay platform to provide flexible coverage over the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
The satellite is designed to deliver television broadcasting, telecommunications and government services with its Ku-band payload, while Ka-band relay capability is included to open business opportunities for both Eutelsat and Es'hailSat.
Based on Space Systems/Loral's SSL 1300 spacecraft platform, EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 is equipped with four steerable spot beam antennas and four deployable reflectors, along with advanced command and telemetry capabilities.  After deployment by Ariane 5, the satellite will be positioned at 25.5 degrees East longitude, with a designed operating lifetime of 15 years or more.
For Arianespace's August 29 launch, EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 is to be installed in the upper position of Ariane 5's payload "stack," with the flight's co-passenger – India's GSAT-7 communications satellite from the Indian Space Research Organisation – riding below it.
The lift performance on this fourth heavy-lift Arianespace mission in 2013 will be more than 8,550 kg., which includes the 6,000-kg.-plus liftoff mass of EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 and GSAT-7's estimated mass of 2,550 kg.
Designated Flight VA215 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system, the upcoming launch follows heavyweight Ariane 5 missions conducted so far this year from the Spaceport in July (Flight VA214, with Alphasat and INSAT-3D), during June (Flight VA213, orbiting the Automated Transfer Vehicle Albert Einstein), and in February (Flight VA212, with Amazonas 3 and Azerspace/Africasat-1a).
In other 2013 Arianespace launch activity, the medium-lift Soyuz was deployed in June from French Guiana with four O3b Networks satellites, and the lightweight Vega performed a Spaceport mission in May with the Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 payloads.
 Completing the company's activity to date in 2013 was a February Soyuz flight from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, performed by Arianespace's Starsem affiliate to loft six Globalstar second-generation satellites.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1085.asp

Focus on India: GSAT-7 is mated for Arianespace's next launch, and Indian Independence Day is celebrated at the Spaceport


The protective container with GSAT-7 is moved into Ariane 5's Final Assembly Building, where this Indian communications satellite was mated with its heavy-lift launcher.

 August 16, 2013 – Ariane Flight VA215
India was in the spotlight at the Spaceport in French Guiana this week as its GSAT-7 communications satellite was mated to the Ariane 5 for Arianespace's August 29 launch, and mission team members gathered to celebrate the country's Independence Day.

During activity in the Final Assembly Building for Ariane 5, GSAT-7 was installed atop the heavy-lift launcher, positioning this spacecraft as the lower passenger in the payload "stack."
GSAT-7 will provide relay capacity in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band fr om an orbital position of 74 deg. East., with a liftoff mass estimated at 2,550 kg.  Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation, it utilizes India's standard I-2K spacecraft bus – the same as for the country's INSAT-3D meteorological satellite orbited on Arianespace's previous Ariane 5 mission, performed July 25.
Following GSAT-7's integration on Ariane 5, members of the satellite team joined with Arianespace personnel to celebrate India's Independence Day on August 15.  As part of the observance, a flag-raising ceremony was held at the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation facility, wh ere GSAT-7 had undergone its pre-launch checkout and fueling.
 The August 29 mission with GSAT-7 will be Arianespace's fourth Ariane 5 liftoff of 2013, and also will carry the EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 telecommunications platform in another of the heavy-lift launcher's dual-passenger flights.


 A flag-raising ceremony in front of the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation facility was part of the Indian Independence Day celebration with GSAT-7 mission team members and Arianespace personnel.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1086.asp

Build-up of the Ariane 5 payload "stack" continues for Arianespace's August 29 mission
 
August 19, 2013 – Ariane Flight VA215
EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 has been installed atop the SYLDA dispenser system during integration activity at the Spaceport, positioning this satellite for its ride as the upper passenger in Ariane 5's payload "stack" for the August 29 Arianespace heavy-lift mission.

This marks a new milestone in preparations for Flight VA215 from French Guiana, which will loft EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 and GSAT-7.
Once in orbit, EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 will be used by two operators: the European telecommunications operator Eutelsat Communications; and Qatar's Es'hailSat Satellite Company.
As a high-power, multi-mission relay platform, the satellite is to deliver television broadcasting, telecommunications and government services with its Ku-band payload, while Ka-band relay capability is included to open business opportunities for both Eutelsat and Es'hailSat.  It was produced by Space Systems/Loral (SSL) with a design operating lifetime of 15 years or more, and will be positioned at 25.5 deg. East after deployment by Ariane 5.
EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 was installed on the SYLDA dispenser in the payload preparation area of the Ariane 5's Final Assembly Building.  With this step completed, the satellite/SYLDA combination is ready for encapsulation in the payload fairing, followed by integration on Ariane 5 – positioning it atop GSAT-7, which already has been mated to the launcher.
 Flight VA215 will be Arianespace's fourth heavy-lift mission in 2013 and the 215th launch of an Ariane-series vehicle from French Guiana.


The EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 satellite is ready for its integration on SYLDA,


and is installed atop the dispenser in Ariane 5's Final Assembly Building.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2013/1087.asp

Ariane 5 build-up is completed for Arianespace's upcoming flight with EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 and GSAT-7
 
August 22, 2013 – Ariane Flight VA215
The heavy-lift Ariane 5 for Arianespace's August 29 mission is now complete at the Spaceport in French Guiana following integration of its second passenger – the EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 satellite.

Encapsulated in an ogive-shaped payload fairing, EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 and the SYLDA dispenser system on which it is installed were lowered over GSAT-7 – which was mated with the Ariane 5 earlier this month – to finish launcher build-up at the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building.
With both satellites now installed, Ariane 5 is ready for the final pre-flight preparations – including the launch readiness review on August 27, followed by its rollout to the launch zone the next day, and the subsequent countdown to a 50-minute launch window that opens at 5:30 p.m. local time in French Guiana on August 29.
Riding in the upper position of the payload "stack," EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 will be deployed first, at approximately 27 minutes after liftoff.
Once in orbit, the spacecraft will be used by European telecommunications operator Eutelsat Communications and Qatar's Es'hailSat Satellite Company to deliver television broadcasting, telecommunications and government services in the Ku-band range, while its Ka-band capability will open business opportunities for both operators. This high-power, multi-mission relay platform was built by Space Systems/Loral (SSL) and will be positioned at 25.5 deg. East, with a design life of 15 years or more.
Following the release of EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1, GSAT-7 – the mission's lower passenger – will be deployed at 34 minutes after liftoff, completing the delivery of this Ariane 5's payloads into geostationary transfer orbit.
The Indian satellite, developed by the nation's Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) space agency, will provide relay capacity in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band from an orbital position of 74 deg. East during its design life of seven years.
 Designated Ariane Flight VA215 in the company's launcher family numbering system, this mission represents the 215th flight of an Ariane-series vehicle, as well as the fourth Ariane 5 liftoff in 2013.


 The "upper composite" – with EUTELSAT 25B/Es'hail 1 and the SYLDA dispenser system encapsulated in Ariane 5's payload fairing – was lowered over GSAT-7 during activity in the Spaceport's launcher Final Assembly Building.