22:21 GMT (6:21 pm EDT): Successful separation of BADR-6. Another successful Ariane launch came to its end.
22:16 GMT (6:16 pm EDT): Separation of the Sylda 5 payload structure in order to free the underlying BADR-6 satellite.
22:14 GMT (6:14 pm EDT): The ProtoStar I satellite has been separated.
22:12 GMT (6:12 pm EDT): Shut-down of the upper stage. The next step is separation of the satellites and the payload structure Sylda 5.
21:56 GMT (5:56 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.
21:50 GMT (5:50 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.
21:49 GMT (5:49 pm EDT): The two solid rocket boosters have been jettisoned after 140 seconds. The main stage continues to push the rocket skywards.
21:47 GMT (5:47 pm EDT): Liftoff of the Ariane 5 ECA rocket carrying ProtoStar I and BADR-6.
21:46 GMT (5:46 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.
21:43 GMT (5:43 pm EDT): T-4. The tanks are pressurised for flight.
21:39 GMT (5:30 pm EDT): T-7. The so-called synchronized sequence is started. This sequence runs completely automated. If a problem occurs the countdown has to be reset to the start of the automated sequence.
21:31 GMT (5:31 pm EDT): 15 minutes remaining until the launch. Everything is currently on go.
20:47 GMT (4:47 pm EDT): The clock says one hour until launch. The weather looks fine for launch.
16:57 GMT (12:57 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 40th for Ariane 5 and the 184th for the Ariane family. We are under 5 hours from the launch now.
July 7, 2008
July 6, 2008: The Ariane 5 ECA rocket with its ProtoStar I and BADR-6 payload is ready for the launch tomorrow. It will be rolled out to the launch pad this afternoon.
The payload consists of two satellites weighing a total of 7,537 kilograms:
ProtoStar I will bring high-definition direct-to-home TV transmissions as well as broadband Internet to the entire Southeast Asian region. It is based on the FS 1300 platform built by Space Systems / Loral and has 16 Ku-band and 38 C-band transponders. It weighs about 4,191 kilograms.
BADR-6, built on the Eurostar 2000+ platform by EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, will provide direct TV broadcasting services for the entire Middle East and North Africa. The satellite carries a total of 24 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders and weighs about 3,346 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 21:47 GMT (5:47 pm EDT) for 36 minutes on July 7.
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