BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW WRITERS

March 8, 2001 -- Follow the preparations and launch of the Arianespace Ariane 509 rocket carrying the Eurobird and BSAT-2a communications satellites. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2001

Two new digital stars are in the sky today following the successful launch Thursday of an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket that delivered European and Japanese telecommunications satellites into Earth orbit. Read our complete launch story.

2327 GMT (6:27 p.m. EST)

Plus+36 minutes, 37 seconds. BSAT-2a SEPARATION! Japan's B-SAT satellite operator now has a new direct-to-home broadcasting spacecraft in orbit following release from the Ariane 509 rocket. This completes tonight's successful flight for Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5 vehicle.

Check back a little later this evening for a complete wrap-up story on this launch and look ahead to the next Ariane mission scheduled for June.

2324 GMT (6:24 p.m. EST)

Plus+33 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude 3,051 km, velocity 7.66 km/sec.

2323 GMT (6:23 p.m. EST)

Plus+32 minutes, 45 seconds. The Sylda 5 structure has separated from the Ariane 5. Coming up on BSAT-2a release in about four minutes.

2321 GMT (6:21 p.m. EST)

Plus+30 minutes. In about two-and-a-half minutes, the Sylda 5 dual payload adapter will be jettisoned. This barrel-like structure held the Eurobird satellite during launch and enclosed BSAT-2a. Once Sylda is separated, the BSAT-2a craft will be revealed and cleared for deployment.

2320 GMT (6:20 p.m. EST)

Plus+29 minutes, 35 seconds. EUROBIRD SEPARATION! The European Telecommunications Satellite Organization's Eurobird spacecraft has been released into space from the Ariane 5 rocket. The craft will be used to provide digital entertainment programming across Europe.

2318 GMT (6:18 p.m. EST)

Plus+27 minutes. Confirmation that the upper stage has shutdown as planned to complete powered flight for the launch. The stage will now spin up to a few revolutions per minute and provide proper pointing for deployment of the Eurobird and BSAT-2a satellites.

2317 GMT (6:17 p.m. EST)

Plus+26 minutes, 30 seconds. Coming up on shutdown of the upper stage engine. Altitude 1,703 km, velocity 8.48 km/sec.

2316 GMT (6:16 p.m. EST)

Plus+25 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude 1,550 km, velocity 8.43 km/sec.

2315 GMT (6:15 p.m. EST)

Plus+24 minutes, 30 seconds. Just over two minutes left in the propulsion from the upper stage. Altitude 1,403.7 km, velocity 8.37 km/sec.

2314 GMT (6:14 p.m. EST)

Plus+23 minutes. Altitude is 1,299 km, velocity is 8.3 km/sec.

2313 GMT (6:13 p.m. EST)

Plus+22 minutes, 30 seconds. The Malinda downrange tracking station in Kenya, Africa has acquired the rocket's signal.

2312 GMT (6:12 p.m. EST)

Plus+21 minutes. A smooth flight of the Ariane 509 launcher continues above the central Atlantic Ocean. Altitude is 960 km, velocity is 8.22 km/sec.

2311 GMT (6:11 p.m. EST)

Plus+20 minutes. Now twenty minutes since launch. About seven minutes left to go in the upper stage burn.

2310 GMT (6:10 p.m. EST)

Plus+19 minutes, 30 seconds. Ariane 5 continues to perform as expected. Trajectory is normal. Altitude is 802.2 km, velocity is 8.16 km/sec.

2308 GMT (6:08 p.m. EST)

Plus+17 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 624 km, velocity is 8.08 km/sec.

2307 GMT (6:07 p.m. EST)

Plus+16 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 544 km, velocity is 8.04 km/sec.

2306 GMT (6:06 p.m. EST)

Plus+15 minutes, 30 seconds. About 11 minutes left in the burn of the Ariane 5 rocket's upper stage.

2305 GMT (6:05 p.m. EST)

Plus+14 minutes. The upper stage continues to fire for its long-duration burn. No problems have been reported during today's launch. Altitude currently 379.9 km, velocity is 7.92 km/sec.

2303 GMT (6:03 p.m. EST)

Plus+12 minutes, 30 seconds. The Ascension Island tracking station in the mid-Atlantic Ocean has picked up signals from the Ariane 509 rocket. Altitude currently 304 km, velocity is 7.84 km/sec.

2303 GMT (6:03 p.m. EST)

Plus+12 minutes. Altitude 278.7 km, velocity is 7.81 km/sec.

2302 GMT (6:02 p.m. EST)

Plus+11 minutes. Altitude currently 236.2 km, velocity is 7.76 km/sec.

2301 GMT (6:01 p.m. EST)

Plus+10 minutes, 15 seconds. The main cryogenic stage's Vulcain engine has cut off and the stage has separated. The engine consumed 160 tons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen during the launch. It will fall back into the atmosphere over the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The upper stage, the storable propellant stage, has ignited to deliver the payloads to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

2300 GMT (6:00 p.m. EST)

Plus+9 minutes, 45 seconds. The vehicle has passed out of range from the Kourou tracking station. Coming up on main stage burn cutoff.

2300 GMT (6:00 p.m. EST)

Plus+9 minutes. Altitude currently 172.1 km, velocity is 6.3 km/sec.

2259 GMT (5:59 p.m. EST)

Plus+8 minutes, 30 seconds. The Natal tracking station has acquired signal from the Ariane 5 rocket.

2259 GMT (5:59 p.m. EST)

Plus+8 minutes. Now in the period of flight were the rocket's altitude levels out a bit in order to gain speed. Altitude currently 163.6 km, velocity is 5.2 km/sec.

2258 GMT (5:58 p.m. EST)

Plus+7 minutes. All vehicle systems' parameters still reported normal as the main stage cryogenic engine continues to fire. Altitude is 162 km, velocity 4.3 km/sec.

2257 GMT (5:57 p.m. EST)

Plus+6 minutes. Altitude is 158 km, velocity is 3.57 km/sec.

2256 GMT (5:56 p.m. EST)

Plus+5 minutes, 10 seconds. The Ariane 509 rocket continues to operate normally and remains on the proper course. Altitude is 151 km, velocity is 3.07 km/sec.

2255 GMT (5:55 p.m. EST)

Plus+4 minutes, 15 seconds. Altitude is 135 km, velocity is 2.64 km/sec.

2254 GMT (5:54 p.m. EST)

Plus+3 minutes, 30 seconds. The protective payload fairing has been separated from the Ariane 5. The vehicle now weighs 20 percent of what it did at liftoff.

2254 GMT (5:54 p.m. EST)

Plus+3 minutes. Altitude is 97 km, velocity is 2.2 km/sec.

2253 GMT (5:53 p.m. EST)

Plus+2 minutes, 30 seconds. The solid rocket boosters have been jettisoned from the Ariane 5 rocket's core stage. The boosters provided 90 percent of the liftoff thrust. The liquid-fueled Vulcain main engine continues to fire to propel the vehicle and its cargos to orbit.

2253 GMT (5:53 p.m. EST)

Plus+2 minute. Altitude passing 40 km.

2252 GMT (5:52 p.m. EST)

Plus+1 minute, 30 seconds. Good flight so far for the Ariane 509 rocket.

2252 GMT (5:52 p.m. EST)

Plus+1 minute. Ariane 5 on the proper trajectory.

2251 GMT (5:51 p.m. EST)

Plus+45 seconds. Vehicle parameters are normal.

2251 GMT (5:51 p.m. EST)

Plus+30 seconds. Rocket has completed its pitch and rolls maneuvers as it heads downrange into a cloudy South American night sky.

2251 GMT (5:51 p.m. EST)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Ariane 5 rocket embarking on a commercial voyage for Europe and Japan with two telecommunications satellites onboard.

2250 GMT (5:50 p.m. EST)

Minus-40 seconds. Vehicle now on internal power.

2250 GMT (5:50 p.m. EST)

Minus-1 minute. A fast-paced series of events leading to launch will begin at Minus 37 seconds when the automated ignition sequence is started. The water suppression system at the launch pad will start at Minus 30 seconds. At Minus 22 seconds, overall control will be given to the onboard computer. The Vulcain main engine will be readied for ignition with hydrogen chilldown starting at Minus 18 seconds. The residual hydrogen burn flares will fire beneath the Vulcain engine at Minus 7 seconds to burn away any free hydrogen gas. At Minus 3 seconds, onboard systems take over and the two inertial guidance systems go to flight mode. Vulcain main engine ignition occurs at Minus 0 seconds with checkout between Plus+4 and 7 seconds. If there are no problems found, the solid rocket boosters are ignited at Plus+7.3 seconds.

2248 GMT (5:48 p.m. EST)

Minus-3 minutes. All systems remain ready for flight. The scheduled launch time has been loaded into the rocket's main computer system. Main stage tank pressures now at flight level.

2247 GMT (5:47 p.m. EST)

Minus-4 minutes. Pressurization now underway for the main cryogenic stage's liquid oxygen and hydrogen tanks. Also, final pyrotechnic arming has started. Liftoff remains planned for 2251 GMT (5:51 p.m. EST).

2246 GMT (5:46 p.m. EST)

Minus-5 minutes and counting. The Ariane 509 rocket's two satellite payloads weigh in at 4,367 kg (9,607 pounds). The targeted orbit to be achieved by the launcher today is 35,786 km high with a perigee of 860 km and inclination of 2 degrees to the equator.

2244 GMT (5:44 p.m. EST)

Minus-7 minutes and counting. Synchronized Sequence start. Computers are now in control of this final segment of the launch countdown to prepare the rocket and ground systems for liftoff. There are two computers running the countdown -- one aboard the Ariane 5 and a redundant one at the ELA-3 launch complex.

2242 GMT (5:42 p.m. EST)

Minus-9 minutes and counting. The Synchronized Sequence will begin in the next two minutes to control the countdown through liftoff.

The final weather update has verified that conditions will be acceptable for launch at 2251 GMT. Good visibility reported in the South American jungle tonight.

2240 GMT (5:40 p.m. EST)

Minus-11 minutes and counting. The status board in the control center is completely green, indicating no problems in the countdown with the rocket, payloads, weather or ground support. At the ELA-3 launch zone, the Ariane 509 rocket is poised for liftoff with powerful flood lights illuminating the mighty launcher.

2236 GMT (5:36 p.m. EST)

Minus-15 minutes. All systems remain "go" for launch today. Today's mission will be the 140th for an Ariane rocket, the 3rd of 2001 and the ninth of Ariane 5.

2234 GMT (5:34 p.m. EST)

Minus-17 minutes and counting. A network of tracking stations are standing ready to relay data from the Ariane 5 rocket to engineers in Kourou. The early portion of flight will be monitored through the Kourou and Cayenne stations in French Guiana. About 8 minutes, 30 seconds into flight the Natal station in Brazil will pick up the rocket's signal as the main stage separates and the upper stage burn gets underway. At Plus 12 minutes, 51 seconds the site on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean will begin coverage. Malindi in Africa will provide services starting at Plus 22 minutes, 16 seconds through the spacecraft separation.

2231 GMT (5:31 p.m. EST)

Minus-20 minutes and counting. The countdown is proceeding on schedule for launch of Ariane 509 with the Eurobird and BSAT-2a communications spacecraft. There are no technical problems being worked, weather conditions are acceptable and liftoff remains on target for 2251 GMT.

2221 GMT (5:21 p.m. EST)

Now 30 minutes away from the scheduled blastoff time for the ninth Ariane 5 rocket. Arianespace will begin providing countdown status reports from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, starting in about 10 minutes.

At this point in the countdown the rocket should be fully fueled with the main cryogenic stage being continuously topped off to replace the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen supplies that naturally boil away. Also, the final checks of the rocket's telemetry, tracking and command systems are supposed to be finished by now.

1945 GMT (2:45 p.m. EST)

Arianespace reports the countdown is underway and on schedule for today's planned launch of an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou. The massive launcher is due to embark on a commercial mission for Eutelsat and B-SAT at 2251 GMT (5:51 p.m. EST).

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2001

The Ariane 509 rocket was rolled to its South American launch pad Wednesday in final preparation for liftoff Thursday evening to deliver European and Japanese telecommunications satellites into orbit.

Arianespace Flight 140 is poised to blast off at 2251 GMT (5:51 p.m. EST), the opening of a 56-minute launch window.

Eurobird will operate for Eutelsat, a continental telecommunications organization based in Paris, France. Stationed in geostationary orbit at 28.5 degrees East, it will use its 24 Ku-band transponders to provide communications services throughout Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East during its projected 12.5-year lifetime.

Built by Alcatel Space of France, the 6,710-pound Eurobird feature power-generating solar panels that span almost 90 feet tip-to-tip.

The Ariane 5 rocket's other payload is BSAT-2a, a craft to broadcast direct-to-home programming to homes and businesses in Japan. BSAT-2a is the third satellite for Japan-based B-SAT Corp., which will launch a fourth spacecraft on Arianespace Flight 141 in June.

BSAT-2a is based on Orbital Sciences' "STAR" design, which allows for a less expensive alternative to higher priced and larger satellites for communications purposes. The spacecraft weighs 2,897 pounds at launch and has a pair of solar arrays that stretch around 50 feet across when fully deployed. The craft will operate for a decade in geostationary orbit at 110 degrees East.

For launch, Eurobird will be positioned on top of the payload "stack" inside the fairing and will be deployed first, while BSAT-2a will be located on the bottom inside the Sylda 5 dual payload adapter.

Recently, the Ariane 509's storable propellant upper stage was filled with its monomethyl hydrazine fuel and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer on February 28.

On March 1, a full-up launch rehearsal was performed and last Monday saw the Ariane 5 rocket being armed for flight, followed by the launch readiness review on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the launcher was rolled out from the final assembly building on rail tracks to the ELA-3 launch zone.

Looking ahead, the final countdown will commence at 1351 GMT (8:51 a.m. EST). A final check of electrical systems will occur at 1521 GMT (10:21 a.m. EST). The Ariane 509's main cryogenic first stage will begin receiving its liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen propellant combination at 1731 GMT (12:31 p.m. EST). Propellant will begin flowing through the first stage's Vulcain main engine plumbing at 1931 GMT (2:31 p.m. EST) to ready it for flight. At 2136 GMT (4:36 p.m. EST), a check on connections between the launcher and telemetry, tracking, and command systems will take place. If all reporting elements are still "go" for launch, the synchronized sequence will begin at 2244:30 GMT (5:44:30 p.m. EST). Following that crucial milestone are a series of fast-paced events leading up to the ignition of the first stage's Vulcain main engine T-0. Seven seconds later, the twin solid-fueled boosters of the Ariane 509 will come to life, with liftoff immediately following.

During its ascent to space, Flight 140 will take a normal Ariane 5 launch profile with the solid-fueled boosters completing their job and separating from the rest of the vehicle 2 minutes, 25 seconds after launch. The payload fairing will jettison 49 seconds later. The main cryogenic first stage will shut down 9 minutes, 40 seconds after liftoff, with the stage shortly separating and the upper stage igniting just moments after that point. The second stage will operate for 16 minutes, 44 seconds before shutting off to prepare the two payloads for separation.

Check this page later today for live play-by-play updates of the final half-hour of the countdown and launch.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2001

Possible concerns with Europe's Ariane 509 rocket have forced a six-day delay in the mission's launch with two communications satellites, Arianespace says. The launch is now set for March 8.

Flight 140's launch window will open at 2251 GMT (5:51 p.m. EST) and will close at 2347 GMT (6:47 p.m. EST). Liftoff will be from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Center.

The postponement is due to Arianespace officials ordering "complementary checks" on the Ariane 5 launcher. No further details were released on the problem.

Otherwise, Arianespace reports that all aspects of the launch system are on track for a March 8 blastoff into geostationary transfer orbit with the Japanese BSAT-2a and European Eurobird 1 telecommunications satellites.

The nearly complete Ariane 509 launcher remains inside the final assembly building. Its two satellite payloads and their protective payload fairing were to be added late last week or early this week, depending on the scope of the inspections on the launcher.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2001

A powerful Ariane 5 rocket is being readied to fly to space early next month with two commercial communications satellites. Flight 140 will be the third Ariane rocket launch of 2001 and the first for Ariane 5.

The Ariane 509 rocket is due to launch from Guiana Space Center's ELA-2 launch pad at the opening of a window to be announced on March 2.

Workers at Arianespace's South American spaceport began preparations for Flight 140 late last month when the cryogenic first stage was placed in the vertical position and lowered to a point just above the mobile launch table.

The twin solid-fueled boosters that make up the Ariane 5 were then rolled into the launcher integration building for mating to the liquid-fueled stage.

That was followed a few days later by the attachment of the Ariane 509's storable propellant upper stage atop the cryogenic main stage. The vehicle equipment bay -- commonly called the "brains" of the rocket because it contains the systems that are essential to a successful flight -- was later placed above the second stage.

The nearly complete Ariane 509 launcher was transferred from the launcher integration building to the final integration building on February 13. There it will receive its two communication satellite payloads and payload fairing before the rocket is rolled out to the launch pad on the day preceding launch.

Both the European Eurobird and the Japanese BSAT-2a spacecraft are proceeding through routine pre-launch tests and checks before being mated to the Ariane 5 awaiting them in the final assembly building. Eurobird, a bit larger than Orbital Sciences-built BSAT-2a, was manufactured by Alcatel Space.

Stay tuned to Spaceflight Now for complete coverage throughout the remaining weeks of the launch campaign for more updates on the status of Flight 140.