BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW WRITERS

September 6, 2000 -- Follow the preparations and launch of the Eutelsat W1 communications satellite aboard an Arianespace Ariane 4 rocket. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2000

Continuing its dramatic surge in launches through the end of 2000, Arianespace successfully lofted a European communications satellite Wednesday in what is planned to be the first of three Ariane rocket flights over the next 20 days. Read our full story.

2253 GMT (6:53 p.m. EDT)

Plus+20 minutes, 20 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The European Telescommunication Satellite Organization's W1 spacecraft has been released into space from the Ariane's third stage, completing tonight's launch of Arianespace Flight 132. No problems were reported during the launch, which began right on time. This marks the 56th consecutive success for Ariane 4.

Check back later tonight for a full wrap up story on the launch and pictures.

2252 GMT (6:52 p.m. EDT)

Plus+19 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude now 363.2 km, velocity is 9.6 km/sec.

2252 GMT (6:52 p.m. EDT)

Plus+19 minutes. Third stage has shut down to complete the powered flight. The stage will now provide the necessary pointing for deployment of Eutelsat's W1 spacecraft in the next minute.

2251 GMT (6:51 p.m. EDT)

Plus+18 minutes. All vehicle parameters remain normal. The Libreville tracking station in Africa has acquired the Ariane 4 rocket. Altitude now 306.8 km, velocity is 9.1 km/sec.

2249 GMT (6:49 p.m. EDT)

Plus+16 minutes, 30 seconds. And the Ariane 4 is now gaining altitude again. Altitude is 286.9 km, velocity 8.2 km/sec.

2248 GMT (6:48 p.m. EDT)

Plus+15 minutes, 35 seconds. The rocket has bottomed out in its sling-shot to orbit. Altitude is 285.2 km, velocity 7.81 km/sec.

2247 GMT (6:47 p.m. EDT)

Plus+14 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 289.2 km, velocity 7.33 km/sec.

2247 GMT (6:47 p.m. EDT)

Plus+14 minutes. Less than five minutes left in the third stage burn.

2246 GMT (6:46 p.m. EDT)

Plus+13 minutes, 10 seconds. The Ascension Island tracking station in the Atlantic Ocean has acquired the rocket's signal as it heads eastward away from South America. Altitude is 297.3 km, velocity 6.78 km/sec.

2245 GMT (6:45 p.m. EDT)

Plus+12 minutes. Now reaching the period in flight where the Ariane rocket gives up a bit of altitude in order to gain velocity like a sling-shot. Altitude is 302 km, velocity 6.3 km/sec.

2244 GMT (6:44 p.m. EDT)

Plus+11 minutes, 30 seconds. The rocket is now passed out of range from the tracking station in Kourou. Live telemetry coverage still being provide via the Natal station.

2243 GMT (6:43 p.m. EDT)

Plus+10 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 301 km, velocity is 5.8 km/sec.

2242 GMT (6:42 p.m. EDT)

Plus+9 minutes. All rocket system parameters and trajectory remain normal. Altitude is 285 km, velocity is 5.49 km/sec.

2240 GMT (6:40 p.m. EDT)

Plus+7 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 247.7 km, velocity 5.15 km/sec.

2240 GMT (6:40 p.m. EDT)

Plus+7 minutes. The Natal tracking station in Brazil has picked up the rocket's signal. Trajectory of the rocket is reported normal.

2239 GMT (6:39 p.m. EDT)

Plus+6 minutes. Burnout of the second stage has occurred and the spent stage has jettisoned. The cryogenic upper stage has now ignited for its long-duration burn to deliver the communications satellite payload into orbit.

2238 GMT (6:38 p.m. EDT)

Plus+5 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude 159 km, velocity 4.63 km/sec.

2237 GMT (6:37 p.m. EDT)

Plus+4 minutes, 30 seconds. Second stage still burning. Also the protective payload fairing enclosing the W1 spacecraft has been jettisoned from the rocket. Altitude 114 km, velocity 3.18 km/sec.

2236 GMT (6:36 p.m. EDT)

Plus+3 minutes, 40 seconds. The four first stage main engines have shut down and stage separation confirmed. The second stage has now ignited.

2235 GMT (6:35 p.m. EDT)

Plus+2 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 38 is km, velocity 1.0 km/sec.

2235 GMT (6:35 p.m. EDT)

Plus+2 minutes. The rocket continues on the proper trajectory as its strikes like a bright comet in the South American night sky.

2234 GMT (6:34 p.m. EDT)

Plus+75 seconds. A smooth flight so far for the Ariane 4 rocket. The four strap-on solid-fuel rocket motors have burned out and separated from the first stage. The first stage engines are still firing.

2233 GMT (6:33 p.m. EDT)

Plus+30 seconds. Ariane is in the pitch maneuver. Main engines and four solid rocket boosters are firing.

2233 GMT (6:33 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Ariane 4 rocket to expand Eutelsat's communications satellite fleet with the W1 spacecraft. And the vehicle has cleared the tower.

2332 GMT (6:32 p.m. EDT)

Minus-1 minute. Equipment aboard the Ariane 44P rocket is being switched to onboard batteries for launch.

In the final seconds of the countdown, activities will include releasing the inertial platform at minus 9 seconds, and the release command to the retraction system for the two cryogenic arms will be given at minus 5 seconds.

2230 GMT (6:30 p.m. EDT)

Minus-3 minutes and counting. Flight 132 will be the 6th Ariane launch so far in 2000 and the 131st in the entire Ariane program. It will be the 98th Ariane 4 mission and the 13th for the Ariane 44P version with four strap-on solid rocket boosters.

2229 GMT (6:29 p.m. EDT)

Minus-4 minutes and counting. The launch team is watching over the final topping off of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen supplies aboard the rocket's third stage.

In the next half-minute, the launch time will be loaded aboard the Ariane rocket's guidance system. Also, the Eutelsat W1 spacecraft will be confirmed on internal power and declared ready for launch.

2227 GMT (6:27 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes. The synchronized launch sequence has started. Computers are now in control of this final segment of the launch countdown. Liftoff still targeted for 2233 GMT (6:33 p.m. EDT).

During the next six minutes, the Ariane 44P rocket, satellite payload and ground systems will be configured for launch. There are two master computers running the countdown. One is responsible for fluids and propellants and the other for final preparation of the electrical systems such as initiating the flight program, activation of the engine steering systems and power transfer from ground supplies to onboard batteries. The computers will control until minus 5 seconds when a majority logic sequencer takes over for first stage engine start at zero seconds. Engine performance checks are done in parallel by the two computers starting at plus 2.8 seconds. Finally, the command will be issued to open the launch table clamps for liftoff between ignition +plus 4.1 and 4.6 seconds.

2226 GMT (6:26 p.m. EDT)

Minus-7 minutes and counting. Arianespace reports all systems are "go" across the board. Weather conditions are also acceptable for launch at 2233 GMT (6:33 p.m. EDT).

The computer-run synchronized sequence to launch will start in one minute.

2223 GMT (6:23 p.m. EDT)

Minus-10 minutes. The countdown continues smoothly. Liftoff remains set to occur at 2233 GMT (6:33 p.m. EDT).

A network of tracking stations are standing ready to relay data from the Ariane 4 rocket to engineers in Kourou. The early portion of flight will be monitored through the Kourou and Cayenne stations in French Guiana. About 6 minutes, 40 seconds into flight the Natal station in Brazil will pick up the rocket's signal as the third stage burn gets underway. At plus 12 minutes, 40 seconds the site on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean will begin coverage. Libreville in Gabon will provide services for spacecraft separation and the conclusion of Arianespace Flight 132.

2218 GMT (6:18 p.m. EDT)

Minus-15 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks are ticking off the final minutes to tonight's launch of the Ariane 4 rocket carrying Eutelsat's W1 communications satellite. All systems are "go".

A final weather update will be given in about five minutes.

2214 GMT (6:14 p.m. EDT)

Arianespace reports its 98th Ariane 4 rocket remains on track for launch tonight from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, South America. Liftoff will be possible during a window extending from 2233 to 2347 GMT (6:33 to 7:47 p.m. EDT).

There are no problems to report as the status panel in the Jupiter control center is green across the board.

The three-stage rocket will place the Eutelsat W1 communications satellite into Earth orbit for this 131st flight by Arianespace.

2208 GMT (6:08 p.m. EDT)

Standing by for reports from Kourou on the countdown. Our coverage will begin shortly.

2110 GMT (4:10 p.m. EDT)

The countdown is proceeding in Kourou for tonight's scheduled launch attempt for the Ariane 44P rocket carrying Eutelsat's W1 communications satellite. The rocket's third stage is being fueled with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as clocks tick toward the planned 2233 GMT (6:33 p.m. EDT) liftoff time.

0204 GMT (10:04 p.m. EDT)

It is launch day in the South American jungle where an Arianespace Ariane 44LP rocket is poised to carry the W1 spacecraft into Earth orbit for the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Eutelsat).

Launch from the ELA-2 launch zone at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, is set during a 74-minute launch window that extends from 2233 to 2347 GMT (6:33-7:47 p.m. EDT).

Eutelsat's W1 satellite will be third to launch in 2000 for the European consortium, following the launch of SESAT in April on a Russian Proton rocket and the launch of W4 in May aboard the maiden Lockheed Martin Atlas 3.

Weighing 7,150 pounds (3,250 kg) at launch, W1 was built by Astrium of Toulouse, France. The spacecraft is based on the Eurostar 2000+ platform and features a 3-axis stabilization system.

The satellite to be launched today is actually a replacement for an original W1, which was destroyed during a fire at an Aerospatiale factory where it was under construction in May 1998. The damage occurred when the water suppression system was brought to life to help extinguish the fire sparked inside a satellite test chamber during an antenna check. Aerospatiale was supposed to build all four spacecraft in the W-series. But after the W1 satellite was damaged in a freak factory fire, Eutelsat ultimately ordered the replacement from Matra Marconi Space, which later merged with the aerospace divisions of Daimler Chrysler to form Astrium.

From its perch in geostationary orbit at 10 degrees East, or 22,300 miles above Gabon in western Africa, W1 will be used for such uses as business communications and networking, Internet services, television distribution and contribution links, radio and television broadcasting, and international news agencies. This will be done using W1's 28 Ku-band transponders, which will help the satellite utilize its two coverage zones -- a Widebeam and a powerful Steerable Spotbeam. The Widebeam can be connected to up to 20 of the transponders, while the Steerable Spotbeam can use 12 of the transponders. The Widebeam can cover a footprint, or coverage area, that stretches over Europe, North Africa, the Atlantic islands, Central Asia, and the Middle East. The more powerful Steerable Spotbeam will help Eutelsat expand into new geographical regions, such as southern regions of the African continent.

Once safely in orbit and operational, W1 will take over the responsibilities currently held by the Eutelsat 2-F4 satellite at 10 degrees East. With the new satellite in orbit, Eutelsat officials say, the company will see a 20 percent increase in business capabilities.

With a successful launch later today, Eutelsat plans to have W1 enter service some time in October. During its scheduled lifetime of 12 years, W1's electricity-making solar arrays, which will stretch almost 100 feet from end to end, will produce no less than 7 kilowatts of power at any given time.

Part of the W series of satellites, W1 will be the 18th Ku-band satellite in Eutelsat's satellite fleet. All 18 satellites are positioned between 12.5 degrees West and 48 degrees East. Five more Eutelsat craft are set for launch by early 2002. W1 will be the 13th Eutelsat craft launched by Arianespace. Arianespace will launch the Eurobird satellite for Eutelsat next year.

The Ariane 44P mission, designated Flight 132, will place W1 into a highly elliptical geostationary transfer orbit. The Ariane 44P features a basic Ariane 4 design of three core stages, as well as four solid-fueled strap-on boosters.

Yesterday, the first and second stages were fueled with their storable unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine propellant and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer. The solid-fueled strap-on boosters were loaded with their flexadine powder propellant when they were built.

Later today, the final countdown to launch of Flight 132 will begin at 0803 GMT (4:03 a.m. EDT). The large 321-foot service gantry that has provided access to the launcher during its stay at the launch pad will begin rolling back into its launch position at 1638 GMT (12:38 p.m. EDT). The Ariane 44P's third stage will be fueled with its liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen cryogenic propellant starting at 1858 GMT (2:58 p.m. EDT). Launch controllers in the Jupiter launch control room will activate the launcher's telemetry, radar transponders, telecommand systems, and associated hardware at 2128 GMT (5:28 p.m. EDT). With no problems standing in the way of a successful launch, controllers will allow the Synchronized Launch Sequence to begin at Launch Minus-6 minutes at exactly 2227 GMT (6:27 p.m. EDT). Following the beginning of the final launch sequence is a series of fast-paced events, culminating in the ignition of the first stage engines, then the ignition of the solid-fueled strap-on boosters just over four seconds later -- signaling liftoff.

After launch, the vehicle will take a normal Ariane 44P ascent profile with a one-minute burn of the four solid-fueled strap-on boosters. Following the jettison of all four boosters, the first stage, second stage, and third stage will complete their burns to place the W1 payload into its proper orbit. W1 will separate from the Ariane 4 third stage just over 20 minutes after launch.

Stay with Spaceflight Now for live coverage of tonight's launch. Our play-by-play updates will begin around 30 minutes before launch.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2000

Arianespace officials have cleared an Ariane 44P rocket for launch carrying a European communications satellite on Wednesday evening from the Guiana Space Center in the South American jungle spaceport.

Launch from ELA-2 at Kourou is set for the beginning of a launch window that opens at 2233 GMT and closes at 2347 GMT (6:33-7:47 p.m. EDT).

Flight 132 was given a final "go" for the mission on Monday during the Launch Readiness Review held by senior management.

Since our last update, the Eutelsat W1 spacecraft has completed its encapsulation operations and was mated atop the Ariane 4 at ELA-2 last Friday. With this action completed, the Ariane 4 tagged for Flight 132 now stands fully completed at the launch pad. Also Monday technicians armed the rocket.

On tap today will be loaded the first and second stages with their supplies of storable propellant and final efforts to prepare for starting the launch countdown. Clocks are slated to begin ticking 0803 GMT (4:03 a.m. EDT) on Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2000

Just over a week after the launch of Flight 131, Arianespace's launch site at Kourou, French Guiana, is shifting to a exceptionally busy pace for the remainder of the year, with an average of one launch every fifteen days through the end of December. Next up is Flight 132 on September 6, followed by Flights 130 and 133 later in September.

Flight 132 will fly and Ariane 4 and will loft Eutelsat's W1 spacecraft into an elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit from the near-equatorial launch site in South America. Launch on September 6 from the jungle spaceport's ELA-2 launch zone is set during a 74-minute launch window that opens at 2233 GMT and closes at 2347 GMT (6:33-7:47 p.m. EDT).

The Flight 132 launch campaign was begun on August 3 with the traditional pre-mission review held by senior officials at the Guiana Space Center. Later the same day, the first stage was hoisted above and down onto the mobile launch table inside of the launcher assembly building at ELA-2. The second stage was erected and installed on top of the first stage the following day.

August 7 saw the launch team making small changes to the first stage so that Flight 132 could fly in the Ariane 44P configuration. The Ariane 44P features the basic three-stage Ariane 4 vehicle along with four solid-fueled strap-on boosters clustered around the first stage. Flight 132 was originally to fly in the Ariane 44LP version of the Ariane 4.

The launcher's third stage was mated atop the second stage on August 11, followed on the same day by the vehicle equipment bay on top of the third stage. The vehicle equipment bay, commonly called the "brains" of the launch vehicle, contains all computer, telemetry, guidance, and control systems vital to the proper operation of the rocket.

After Flight 131's successful launch on August 17, preparations at the ELA-2 launch zone began for the arrival of the Flight 132 Ariane 44P vehicle. Electrical and control checks were made on August 22.

The Flight 132 Ariane 44P launcher made the one-kilometer trip on a dual rail track from the launcher assembly building to the ELA-2 launch zone on Wednesday, August 23. The mobile launch table was locked in the "hard-down" position just a few hours after arrival at the launch zone.

The four solid-fueled strap-on boosters were mated to the first stage of the Ariane in sets of two on August 25 and 26. If all went well over the weekend, the combined operations phase of the campaign should have begun on August 28, with the launch countdown rehearsal taking place the same day.

Encapsulation operations between the payload adapter, fairing, and W1 spacecraft will take place through mid-week, followed by the mating of the entire unit to the launcher.

After payload mating, Arianespace officials will conduct a launch rehearsal and a final launch readiness review to insure complete readiness for the Flight 132 mission.

The rocket's first and second stages will be filled with their storable nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer and unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine fuel combination around a day before launch. The third stage and its cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen combination will not be fueled until just hours before launch.

The W1 spacecraft will provide communications services to parts of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East from its perch 22,300 miles above the equator at 10 degrees East longitude. Built by Europe's Astrium, it will operate on behalf of the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Eutelsat) of Europe.

Flight 132 will be the 98th flight of an Ariane 4.