Arianespace's second launch of 2002 marked another flawless performance for Ariane 4, as the workhorse vehicle placed Intelsat 904 satellite into a highly accurate geostationary transfer orbit during an early morning mission today.
Lifting off on schedule at 3:59 a.m. local Kourou time, the Ariane 44L climbed away from the ELA-2 launch site under the power of its four first stage engines and the additional thrust of four strap-on liquid boosters.
Flight 148 was the 20th Ariane launch of an Intelsat satellite and the 109th mission of an Ariane 4.
Speaking at Intelsat's Washington, D.C. headquarters - where the Arianespace launch video broadcast was shown live to employees and guests - Intelsat CEO Conny Kullman said today's mission was another important step in the company's transition "from a satellite-centric pioneer to a network-centric commercial telecommunications operator."
Kullman was the driving force behind Intelsat's comprehensive restructuring that turned the international cooperative into a private company. This major changeover was completed last July.
Intelsat 904 is the latest Intelsat IX-series satellite, and will be positioned at 60 deg. East over the Indian Ocean for Internet, broadcast, telephone and network services. This spacecraft will provide wide-area coverage with beams over the European, Asian and African markets. The first Intelsat IX platform, Intelsat 901, was launched by Arianespace Flight 141 last June, and was followed by Intelsat 902 on Flight 143 in August.
Arianespace Chief Operating Officer Jean-Yves Le Gall thanked all the teams involved in today's successful mission, and added that activity at the Spaceport continues in full swing as Arianespace moves ahead with its busy launch schedule for 2002.
The next launch is only five days away, when the first Ariane 5 of the year will be used to orbit Europe's massive Envisat Earth observation platform. Envisat has been integrated atop its Ariane 5, and all is on schedule for the evening liftoff on February 28.
Preparations for the next Ariane 4 mission also are well advanced, with the Ariane 44L nearly completed for Flight 149 in the second half of March. This will be a dual satellite mission, carrying payloads from Japan and Europe.
In addition, preparations are continuing for fueling tests of the new upper stage that will power the uprated version of Ariane 5 with a 10-ton payload capability into geostationary transfer orbit. For these tests, a mockup Ariane 5 will be used to check out the launch pad fueling procedures that will be used with the ESC-A upper stage.
The Spaceport's capability to handle numerous missions in parallel was underscored by yesterday's arrival of the Spot 5 Earth resources satellite in French Guiana. This spacecraft will start its final checkout process in preparation for an upcoming Arianespace mission. (ends)
Flight 148: Intelsat 904 Rides Into Orbit On Ariane 4
