Arianespace's fifth heavy-lift Ariane 5 of 2006 enters final assembly

[BGonaSTICK]

Preparations for Arianespace's final Ariane 5 flight of 2006 have moved into their next phase following the launcher's transfer from the integration building to the final assembly facility at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

The transfer occurred November 21, with the Ariane 5 riding atop its massive mobile launch table. After rolling out of the Launcher Integration Building (where the vehicle's basic assembly was performed), the Ariane 5 moved along a 2.5-km. semi-circular rail line to the Final Assembly Building, where its dual satellite payload will be installed.

Liftoff of the Ariane 5 is set for the evening of December 8. As with the other four successful flights in 2006, this year-ending heavy-lift mission will carry two satellite passengers.

Installed in the upper position of Ariane 5's multiple payload dispenser system will be the 4,735 kg. WildBlue-1 spacecraft. The pioneering satellite will provide Internet access by using next-generation, two-way wireless Ka-band spot beam technology for multiple re-use of the same frequency.

WildBlue-1 will allow Colorado-based WildBlue Communications, to triple its customer capacity in the United States, providing Internet access to homes and small offices in areas where terrestrial broadband access alternatives are either limited or unavailable. The spacecraft was produced in Palo Alto, California by Space Systems/Loral and will be positioned at an orbital slot of 109.2 deg. West.

Joining WildBlue-1 on the December 8 mission will be SES AMERICOM's AMC-18 telecommunications satellite. AMC-18 is to ride in the lower passenger position, and will have a mass at liftoff of approximately 2,080 kg. It was built in Sunnyvale, California by Lockheed Martin Commercial Satellite Systems, and will operate from an orbital position of 105 deg. West.

Equipped with 24 C-band transponders, AMC-18 will provide cable television services to the 50 United States and the Caribbean. With a design life of more than 15 years, it will expand SES AMERICOM's fleet of satellites that distribute cable, television and radio broadcasts, telecommunications services, business television and broadband data throughout the Americas and transoceanic regions.