22:36 GMT (6:36 pm EDT): Successful separation of Turksat 3A. Another successful Ariane launch came to its end.
22:34 GMT (6:34 pm EDT): Separation of the Sylda 5 payload structure in order to free the underlying Turksat 3A satellite.
22:32 GMT (6:32 pm EDT): The Skynet 5C satellite has been separated.
22:30 GMT (6:30 pm EDT): Shut-down of the upper stage. The next step is separation of the satellites and the payload structure Sylda 5.
22:14 GMT (6:14 pm EDT): Main engine cutoff and separation of the first stage. The second cryogenic stage ignited. The ESC-A upper stage with its HM-7B engine will now burn for almost 16 minutes.
22:08 GMT (6:08 pm EDT): The payload fairing is jettisoned. As the rocket reached over 100 kilometers altitude and left the dense atmosphere, this cover is no longer needed.
22:07 GMT (6:07 pm EDT): The two solid rocket boosters have been jettisoned after 140 seconds. The main stage continues to push the rocket skywards.
22:05 GMT (6:05 pm EDT): Liftoff of the Ariane 5 ECA rocket carrying Skynet 5C and Turksat 3A.
22:04 GMT (6:04 pm EDT): T-1. Switched to onboard power. Everything is ready for the launch of the Ariane 5 rocket. The Vulcain main engine will be ignited 7 seconds before the boosters to ensure proper operation.
22:01 GMT (6:01 pm EDT): T-4. The tanks are pressurised for flight.
21:58 GMT (5:58 pm EDT): The countdown is resumed at T-7. The so-called synchronized sequence is started. This sequence runs completely automated. If again a problem occurs the countdown has to be reset to the start of the automated sequence.
21:56 GMT (5:56 pm EDT): Still no news about the reason for the hold.
21:50 GMT (5:50 pm EDT): The range officer called the “red”.
21:47 GMT (5:47 pm EDT): T-7. A hold was called.
21:39 GMT (5:39 pm EDT): 15 minutes remaining until the launch. Everything is currently on go.
20:54 GMT (4:54 pm EDT): The clock says one hour until launch. The weather looks fine for launch.
17:06 GMT (1:06 pm EDT): The fueling for the Ariane 5 main stage has begun. The stage is powered by the Vulcain engine feeded by liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2). Today’s launch will be the 39th for Ariane 5 and the 183rd for the Ariane family. We are under 5 hours from the launch now.
June 12, 2008
June 11, 2008: The Ariane 5 ECA rocket with its Skynet 5C and Turksat 3A payload is ready for the launch tomorrow. It will be rolled out to the launch pad this afternoon.
The first launch attempt on May 30 was cancelled to due a software error.
The payload consists of two satellites weighing a total of 7,748 kilograms:
Skynet 5C will provide secure telecom services to the British Armed Forces, NATO and other countries which already use the Skynet military communications satellites. It is based on the EUROSTAR E3000 platform built by Astrium. It weighs about 4,638 kilograms.
Turksat 3A, built on the Spacebus 4000 B2 platform by Thales Alenia Space, will provide telecommunications for Europe, Turkey and Central Asia. The satellite carries a total of 24 Ku-band transponders and weighs about 3,110 kilograms.
The Ariane 5 will fly in its ECA version with the cryogenic upper stage ESC-A powered by the HM-7B engine. It uses the Sylda dual payload structure.
The launch window opens at 21:54 GMT (5:54 pm EDT) for 45 minutes on June 12.
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