Arianespace's second mission of 2002 is now set for the early morning hours of February 23. The shift in timing followed additional work on the fairing, which protects the mission's Intelsat 904 satellite payload during climb-out through the atmosphere.
Intelsat 904 was enclosed in the two-piece fairing during the weekend, clearing the way for its integration yesterday atop the Ariane 4 vehicle.
The photo at right shows the payload fairing containing Intelsat 904 (in the background) as it was readied for installation on the Ariane 4. This image was taken in the upper level of the ELA-2 service gantry, and the photographer's use of a fish-eye lens distorts the left and right sides of the picture. In the foreground is the top of the Ariane 4's third stage, ready to receive the payload.
The mission's new timing calls for the Ariane 4 to lift off at the start of a one-hour launch window, which opens at 3:59 a.m. local Kourou time.
Intelsat 904 will be the 20th Intelsat spacecraft lofted by Ariane, and is the latest in the Intelsat IX-series of telecommunications satellites. The launcher used for Flight 148 is a 44L version of the workhorse Ariane 4 family - equipped with four supplemental strap-on liquid boosters that augment the thrust at liftoff and during the initial ascent phase.
