BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Follow the launch of Arianespace's second Ariane 5 ECA rocket carrying an X-band communications satellite. Reload this page for the latest on the mission.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2005
2207 GMT (5:07 p.m. EST)

The following statement has been issued by the European Space Agency following this first successful launch for the Ariane 5 ECA rocket:

The latest version of Ariane 5, designed to loft payloads of up to 10 tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit, successfully completed its initial qualification flight on February 12. After a perfect liftoff from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, at 18:03 local time (22:03 CET), the launcher on Ariane Flight 164 injected its payload into the predicted transfer orbit.

This success paves the way for the commercial introduction of this 'Ariane 5 ECA' version, which is due to replace the current Ariane 5G 'Generic' configuration and is designed to maintain the competitiveness of European launch systems on the world launch services market. Starting from the second flight scheduled for mid-year, Ariane 5 ECA will become the new European workhorse for lifting heavy payloads to geostationary orbit and beyond.

Ariane 5 ECA features upgraded twin solid boosters, each loaded with an extra 2.43 tonnes of propellant, increasing their combined thrust on liftoff by a total of 60 tonnes compared to the Generic configuration. The cryogenic main stage has also been upgraded to carry 15 tonnes of additional propellant. It is powered by the new Vulcain 2 engine, derived from Vulcain 1, which provides 20% more thrust. The Ariane 5 ECA introduces the new high-performance "ESC-A" cryogenic upper stage, powered by the same HM-7B engine as on the Ariane 4 third stage.

Ariane 5 ECA has enough lift capacity to take most combinations of commercial satellites to geostationary transfer orbit and will enable Arianespace to reinstate the systematic dual-launch policy that spelled the success of previous generations of Ariane launchers.

On this flight, the Ariane 5 ECA launcher carried three payloads. The first released 26 minutes into flight, was XTAR-EUR, a 3600-kg commercial X-band communication satellite flown on behalf of XTAR LLC. This will subsequently use its onboard propulsion system to achieve circular orbit. After an initial period of in-orbit testing, it will be deployed to provide secure communications to government customers.

The other two satellites onboard, the Sloshsat FLEVO minisatellite and the Maqsat B2 instrumented model, stored inside the Sylda dual launch adapter, were flown on behalf of ESA.

Next released, 31 minutes after liftoff, the Sloshsat Facility for Liquid Experimentation and Verification in Orbit is a 129-kg satellite developed for ESA by the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory (NRL). It will investigate fluid physics in microgravity to understand how propellant-tank sloshing affects spacecraft control. Its mission is planned to last 10 days.

In order to limit the proliferation of space debris, the third passenger, Maqsat B2, will remain attached to the launcher's upper stage. This 3500-kg instrumented model was designed to simulate the dynamic behaviour of a commercial satellite inside the Ariane 5 payload fairing. An autonomous telemetry system transmitted data on the payload environment during all the flight phases, from liftoff to in-orbit injection. Fitted with a set of cameras, Maqsat B2 also provided dramatic onboard views of several key flight phases, including separation of the solid boosters and jettisoning of the Sylda upper-half payload.

"Less than one month after the descent of Huygens on Titan, this launch marks another great achievement for Europe in space and a further demonstration of European skills in this highly demanding technological field," said Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA, after the flight. "Today's success is also just reward for all the people, in industry and at agencies all over Europe, who have been working so hard to bring this launcher back into operational use.

"Guaranteed access to space is a pre-requisite for our success in all space activities and so it is our duty to maintain this capacity to the full."

2142 GMT (4:42 p.m. EST)

Arianespace and ESA officials have declared today's return-to-flight launch of the new Ariane 5 ECA rocket a success.

The redesigned Vulcain 2 main engine, which caused the launch failure in the rocket's inaugural flight in December 2002, fired for the first 9 minutes of today's mission. The main stage then burned out and separated, leaving the new cryogenic upper stage to fire for the first time.

The upper stage burned its engine for over 15 minutes, injecting the XTAR commercial satellite payload, the tiny Sloshsat experiment spacecraft and a hefty load of ballast in the form of a dummy satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The exact orbit achieved has not yet been announced to confirm an accurate delivery of the cargo.

2136 GMT (4:36 p.m. EST)

Ground controllers have acquired telemetry from the XTAR spacecraft, confirming it is operating following launch into space.

2135 GMT (4:35 p.m. EST)

Plus+32 minutes. The launch team and management officials are cheering and celebrating the completion of this Ariane 5 ECA launch. The rocket has deployed its payloads today, two years after its maiden flight suffered an engine failure and fell into the ocean minutes after liftoff.

2134 GMT (4:34 p.m. EST)

Plus+31 minutes, 24 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The miniature, water-filled experimental spacecraft called Sloshsat has been released from Ariane!

2132 GMT (4:32 p.m. EST)

Plus+29 minutes, 30 seconds. Sloshsat deploy is about two minutes away to complete today's launch. Meanwhile, the dummy ballast satellite will remain attached to the rocket.

2131 GMT (4:31 p.m. EST)

Plus+28 minutes, 48 seconds. The barrel-like Sylda structure has been released. This exposes the satellite simulator and the tiny Sloshsat payloads still riding the upper stage.

2130 GMT (4:30 p.m. EST)

Plus+27 minutes, 15 seconds. In about 90 seconds, the "Sylda" payload adapter between XTAR and the dummy ballast satellite will be jettisoned.

2129 GMT (4:29 p.m. EST)

Plus+26 minutes, 33 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The XTAR communications satellite has been released from the Ariane 5 rocket's upper stage. The spacecraft will provide X-band broadcasting services to the Spanish, U.S. and NATO military allies.

2128 GMT (4:28 p.m. EST)

Plus+25 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 762 km, velocity is 9.26 km/sec.

2127 GMT (4:27 p.m. EST)

Plus+24 minutes, 49 seconds. The new cryogenic upper stage for Ariane 5 has just shut down to complete its first launch. The stage will prepare for deployment of the XTAR payload a few minutes from now.

2127 GMT (4:27 p.m. EST)

Plus+24 minutes, 20 seconds. Altitude is 610 km, velocity is 9.3 km/sec.

2126 GMT (4:26 p.m. EST)

Plus+23 minutes. Less than two minutes of propulsion remains in the upper stage.

2125 GMT (4:25 p.m. EST)

Plus+22 minutes, 20 seconds. Altitude is 409 km, velocity is 8.96 km/sec.

2124 GMT (4:24 p.m. EST)

Plus+21 minutes, 15 seconds. Altitude is 336 km, velocity is 8.77 km/sec.

2123 GMT (4:23 p.m. EST)

Plus+20 minutes. Altitude is 276 km, velocity is 8.5 km/sec.

2122 GMT (4:22 p.m. EST)

Plus+19 minutes. Arianespace says everything is going normally in the launch. Altitude is 242 km, velocity is 8.38 km/sec.

2121 GMT (4:21 p.m. EST)

Plus+18 minutes. Altitude is 220 km, velocity is 8.2 km/sec.

2120 GMT (4:20 p.m. EST)

Plus+17 minutes. The planned launch trajectory is taking the rocket higher now. Altitude is 208 km, velocity is 8.0 km/sec.

2119 GMT (4:19 p.m. EST)

Plus+16 minutes. Altitude is 202.9 km, velocity is 7.85 km/sec.

2118 GMT (4:18 p.m. EST)

Plus+15 minutes, 10 seconds. Just under 10 minutes remain in this firing of the upper stage. Altitude is 202 km, velocity is 7.7 km/sec.

2117 GMT (4:17 p.m. EST)

Plus+14 minutes, 20 seconds. Altitude is 203 km, velocity is 7.55 km/sec.

2115 GMT (4:15 p.m. EST)

Plus+12 minutes, 30 seconds. Arianespace says the rocket's system parameters and trajectory are normal.

2115 GMT (4:15 p.m. EST)

Plus+12 minutes. The new upper stage's firing continues. Altitude is 209 km, velocity is 7.17 km/sec.

2114 GMT (4:14 p.m. EST)

Plus+11 minutes. Altitude is 211 km, velocity is 7.02 km/sec.

2113 GMT (4:13 p.m. EST)

Plus+10 minutes. Altitude is 212 km, velocity is 6.87 km/sec.

2112 GMT (4:12 p.m. EST)

Plus+9 minutes, 15 seconds. The new cryogenic upper stage of the Ariane 5 ECA rocket has ignited for its space debut!

2111 GMT (4:11 p.m. EST)

Plus+8 minutes, 57 seconds. The main cryogenic stage's Vulcain engine has cut off and the spent stage has separated. It will fall back into the atmosphere prior to completing an orbit of Earth.

2111 GMT (4:11 p.m. EST)

Plus+8 minutes. Coming up on main stage shutdown in less than a minute. Altitude is 209 km, velocity is 5.6 km/sec.

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

Plus+7 minutes. The rocket's climb is leveling out. This temporary trajectory is needed in order to gain speed. Altitude is 204 km, velocity is 4.5 km/sec.

2109 GMT (4:09 p.m. EST)

Plus+6 minutes, 15 seconds. Altitude is 195 km, velocity is 3.7 km/sec.

2108 GMT (4:08 p.m. EST)

Plus+5 minutes. The Vulcain 2 engine continues to fire. The Ariane 5 ECA rocket has surpassed the point in the flight that the vehicle failured during its first launch in 2002. Altitude is 173 km, velocity is 2.9 km/sec.

2107 GMT (4:07 p.m. EST)

Plus+4 minutes. Altitude is 143 km, velocity is 2.4 km/sec.

2106 GMT (4:06 p.m. EST)

Plus+3 minutes, 12 seconds. Arianespace says the protective payload fairing enclosing the payload has been separated from the Ariane 5.

2106 GMT (4:06 p.m. EST)

Plus+3 minutes. Altitude is 101 km, velocity is 2.1 km/sec.

2105 GMT (4:05 p.m. EST)

Plus+2 minutes, 29 seconds. The solid rocket boosters have been jettisoned from the Ariane 5 rocket's core stage. The liquid-fueled Vulcain 2 main engine continues to fire to propel the vehicle and its satellite payload to space.

2104 GMT (4:04 p.m. EST)

Plus+1 minute, 30 seconds. About one minute left in the burn by the solid rocket boosters. The boosters are providing 90 percent of the liftoff thrust.

2104 GMT (4:04 p.m. EST)

Plus+60 seconds. The vehicle is on the proper trajectory as it rides the power of the twin solid rocket boosters and main stage liquid-fueled engine.

2103 GMT (4:03 p.m. EST)

Plus+30 seconds. Pitch and roll maneuvers has been performed by the Ariane 5 vehicle to position itself on the correct eastward heading.

2103 GMT (4:03 p.m. EST)

LIFTOFF! The Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA rocket looks for success on its return-to-flight launch.

2102 GMT (4:02 p.m. EST)

Minus-50 seconds. The vehicle is switching to internal power.

2102 GMT (4:02 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 residual hydrogen burn flares will fire beneath the Vulcain engine at Minus-6 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+7.0 seconds for liftoff at Plus+7.3 seconds.

2101 GMT (4:01 p.m. EST)

Minus-2 minutes. All remains in readiness for liftoff.

2100 GMT (4:00 p.m. EST)

Minus-3 minutes.

2059 GMT (3:59 p.m. EST)

Minus-4 minutes and counting. Vehicle pressurization is starting.

2057 GMT (3:57 p.m. EST)

Minus-6 minutes and counting. The liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen supplies of the rocket's stages are topped off at flight level.

2056 GMT (3:56 p.m. EST)

Minus-7 minutes and counting. The Synchronized Sequence is starting once again. 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.

2055 GMT (3:55 p.m. EST)

Minus-8 minutes and counting.

2050 GMT (3:50 p.m. EST)

Countdown will hit Minus-0 seconds at 2103:01 GMT for ignition of the Vulcain 2 main engine. Liftoff occurs about seven seconds later when the twin solid rocket boosters are lit.

2048 GMT (3:48 p.m. EST)

Liftoff is targeted for 2103 GMT -- about 7 minutes before the end of today's launch opportunity.

2047 GMT (3:47 p.m. EST)

Minus-16 minutes and counting! The countdown has been restarted after engineers resolved some sort of problem with pressure readings from the rocket.

2045 GMT (3:45 p.m. EST)

Still holding at Minus-16 minutes.

2038 GMT (3:38 p.m. EST)

The launch team was told that countdown will resume very soon.

2036 GMT (3:36 p.m. EST)

The status panel just went green across the board, indicating all systems are "go" for launch.

2034 GMT (3:34 p.m. EST)

An Arianespace spokesman says the investigation into problems with some pressure sensors is nearly complete. The countdown could restart shortly.

2024 GMT (3:24 p.m. EST)

There has been no further update from Arianespace. Clocks remain holding at Minus-16 minutes. The countdown must resume within the next 30 minutes in order to launch by the close of today's window.

2014 GMT (3:14 p.m. EST)

Arianespace says pressure readings coming from the rocket are the problem. The status panel in the launch control center show the "no go" issue is the ground infrastructure.

2012 GMT (3:12 p.m. EST)

The XTAR spacecraft has returned to a "go" launch status. But the ground systems are still not ready to proceed.

2010 GMT (3:10 p.m. EST)

Countdown clocks continue to hold at Minus-16 minutes. One hour remains in today's launch window.

2008 GMT (3:08 p.m. EST)

The ground systems are "no go" again!

2007 GMT (3:07 p.m. EST)

Arianespace now says the problem involved pressure measurements coming from the launch vehicle were not as expected.

2006 GMT (3:06 p.m. EST)

The status panel in the control center is showing a "go" for the ground equipment. It was "no go" earlier, forcing a hold in the countdown.

1959 GMT (2:59 p.m. EST)

The XTAR payload has switched back to ground-fed power. So the spacecraft is "no go" for launch at the moment. Once a new launch time is set, XTAR will go to internal battery power and be declared ready for flight.

1954 GMT (2:54 p.m. EST)

Today's available launch window extends to 2110 GMT (4:10 p.m. EST).

1952 GMT (2:52 p.m. EST)

Troubleshooting of the problem -- whatever it is -- has begun. Arianespace has not provided any specific information on what caused this hold.

1951 GMT (2:51 p.m. EST)

The liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks aboard the vehicle will be replenished to replace the cryogenic propellants that naturally boil away during this unplanned delay in the launch.

1950 GMT (2:50 p.m. EST)

Countdown clocks are being recycled back to the Minus-16 minute mark. This permits the rocket to be safed, systems reset and a fresh Synchronized Sequence to begin.

1949 GMT (2:49 p.m. EST)

Arianespace says it appears to be an electrical fault that forced a hold in the countdown.

1948 GMT (2:48 p.m. EST)

The countdown has been stopped at Minus 59 seconds due to a problem with the ground installations.

1948 GMT (2:48 p.m. EST)

Minus-1 minute. HOLD!

1947 GMT (2:47 p.m. EST)

Minus-2 minutes. The Vulcain 2 main engine supply valves are being opened. Also, the ground valves for engine chilldown are being closed.

1946 GMT (2:46 p.m. EST)

Minus-3 minutes. The scheduled launch time has been loaded into the rocket's main computer system. The main stage tank pressures should now be at flight level.

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

Minus-4 minutes. Pressurization is now underway for the main cryogenic stage's liquid oxygen and hydrogen tanks. Also, final pyrotechnic arming is starting.

1943 GMT (2:43 p.m. EST)

Minus-6 minutes and counting. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen supplies of the main and upper cryogenic stages are being verified at flight level. Also, the pyrotechnic line safety barriers are being armed.

1942 GMT (2:42 p.m. EST)

Minus-7 minutes and counting. The Synchronized Sequence is starting. 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.

1939 GMT (2:39 p.m. EST)

Minus-10 minutes and counting. Status panels in the control center are green, indicating all systems are "go" for liftoff today.

1935 GMT (2:35 p.m. EST)

Minus-14 minutes and counting. All is proceeding for liftoff of the Ariane 5 rocket at 1949 GMT today. The vehicle's main stage and upper stage have been fueled with their super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants. The countdown is headed to the Synchronized Sequence that assumes control of the clock in the final seven minutes to launch.

1900 GMT (2:00 p.m. EST)

Launch time is 49 minutes away. Arianespace is supposed to begin providing updates from the launch site in a half-hour.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2005

The Ariane 5 ECA rocket was transported to its launch pad in the jungles of northeastern South America this morning. Workers began connecting the mobile launch platform to the ground infrastructure and made final preparations for Saturday's countdown to liftoff. The rocket's main stage and upper stage will be loaded with super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants during the final hours of the count. Liftoff remains scheduled for 1949 GMT (2:49 p.m. EST).

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2005

More than two years have passed since the upgraded model of Europe's Ariane 5 rocket suffered an agonizing failure during its maiden launch, forcing a redesign of its main engine blamed for the mishap and an examination of the entire program. As the booster prepares to try again Saturday, the stakes could not be higher.

Arianespace and its European governmental backers are counting on this evolved version of the rocket, called the Ariane 5 ECA, to capture its share of the commercial launch business. With its reputation already dented by the initial setback, a successful launch is vital for building trust in the rocket.

The Ariane 5 ECA is designed to loft 10,000 kilograms (22,100 pounds) of satellite cargo into geosynchronous transfer orbit, a substantial increase over the 6,000-kilogram (13,260-pound) capacity for the existing Ariane 5G rocket.

Arianespace is counting on the added performance to ease the problems of matching two satellites to share the ride -- and more importantly, share the cost -- of one Ariane 5 launch.

Unlike its chief rivals such as the American and Russian rockets that are tailored to launching one satellite at a time, Arianespace has a long history of dual-payload missions.

The heavy-lifting ability of Ariane 5 ECA is supposed to permit virtually any two satellites to be launched together, versus the limitations imposed by the original Ariane 5G.

While the Ariane 5 ECA vehicle has been grounded to have its problems fixed, a handful of Ariane 5G boosters have flown. But Arianespace's once mighty grasp on the commercial satellite market has slipped, allowing the International Launch Services firm selling Atlas and Proton rockets to capture a majority of recent contracts. In fact, ILS boasts that in the past two years it has signed more new commercial launch orders than all of its competitors combined.

The Ariane 5 ECA gains the extra launch power by using a second-generation main engine, a bit more propellant packed into its strap-on solid-fuel boosters and a brand new liquid hydrogen-fueled upper stage.

It was the Vulcain 2 main engine that experienced an unforeseen breakdown of cooling tubes during the December 2002 maiden launch, leading to the overheating and utter destruction of the bell-shaped nozzle. The rocket was unable to control its trajectory as it passed the three-minute point in the climb to space. Tumbling and doomed, safety officers issued the "destruct" command to destroy the wayward booster a few minutes later. Two communications satellites aboard the rocket were lost, too.

Extensive work has gone into redesigning the engine nozzle to prevent a repeat in Saturday's flight.

"Following the difficulties we experienced in 2002 we entirely revamped all our launcher verification and qualification methods," Jean-Yves Le Gall, Arianespace's chief executive officer, recently told reporters.

The Vulcain 2 is derived from the successful Vulcain 1 powerplant used on the earlier Ariane 5G rocket launches. The new engine is modified to increase thrust by 20 percent. Built by Snecma of France, it burns a more liquid oxygen-rich propellant mixture at higher pressure levels. The first stage liquid oxygen tank was enlarged slightly without any major structural alterations to the vehicle.

Also, the top segments of the Ariane 5's twin solid rocket boosters hold 10 percent more fuel, providing extra thrust in the first 20 seconds of flight.

And the key new feature the truly distinguishes the Ariane 5 ECA is its cryogenic upper stage, which has a heritage traced to the venerable Ariane 4 rocket. This rocket stage alone accounts for approximately 60 percent of the payload capability increase over the Ariane 5G, according to Arianespace.

Fitted with the Snecma-built HM-7B powerplant, the stage feeds its engine super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The engine was used for nearly 15 years as the third stage in the highly successful Ariane 4 rocket program.

All earlier Ariane 5 missions have used a less powerful storable propellant hypergolic upper stage with a single Aestus engine.

Saturday's liftoff from the ELA-3 launch complex at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana on South America's northeastern coast is targeted for 1949 GMT (2:49 p.m. EST). The available launch window extends to 2110 GMT (4:10 p.m. EST).

Topped with a sophisticated X-band communications satellite called XTAR, a hefty load of ballast to simulate the weight of a second spacecraft, plus a miniature, water-filled experimental craft, the 17-story rocket will be rolled on its mobile launching platform from the final assembly building to its pad on Friday.

Arianespace hopes to conduct a half-dozen Ariane 5 launches this year, with a mix of ECA and 5G rocket configurations.

"You might find this ambitious, but I believe it is realistic since the standard Ariane 5G is functioning well. I'm also convinced that the Ariane ECA will function well and we should see the launch of two or three ECA versions and three or four standard versions in 2005," Le Gall said.

Watch this page for live updates during the Saturday's 31-minute flight to orbit.