The fifth Ariane 5 for launch in 2009 is moved to the Final Assembly Building

(Arianespace) – Arianespace is continuing its sustained mission pace by taking delivery of the fifth heavy-lift Ariane 5 to be launched from the Spaceport in French Guiana during 2009.

This milestone occurred yesterday with the Ariane 5’s transfer from the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building – where its basic build-up was performed by industrial prime contractor EADS Astrium, to the Final Assembly Building – where Arianespace will handle the payload installation.

In the photo, the Ariane 5 is shown during its rollout process, with the Launcher Integration Building visible in the background. The vehicle is mounted on one of two mobile launch tables available for Ariane 5, and the transfer was made using the Spaceport’s dual-rail network infrastructure.

For the upcoming flight, Arianespace will perform another of its trademark dual-passenger missions – orbiting the Amazonas 2 telecommunications satellite for Spain’s HISPASAT, and the GMS military communications satellite for Germany.