B-SAT – Spaceflight Now

Three U.S.-built satellites in French Guiana for Ariane 5 launch

July 7, 2020 Stephen Clark

The next flight of Europe’s heavy-lift Ariane 5 rocket, set for July 28 from French Guiana, will carry a record payload of three multi-ton satellites toward geostationary orbit, including a pair of U.S.-built commercial communications payloads and Northrop Grumman’s second robotic satellite servicing spacecraft.

Arianespace to resume launch preparations in French Guiana

May 7, 2020 Stephen Clark

Targeting a pair of satellite launches in June and July, ground teams will resume work at the Guiana Space Center in South America next week after a nearly two-month pause in Arianespace’s launch campaigns due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Live coverage: Ariane 5 rocket fires into space with two commercial satellites

September 29, 2017 Stephen Clark

More than three weeks after a faulty electrical component halted a countdown moments before liftoff, an Ariane 5 rocket lifted off from French Guiana on Friday with two commercial communications satellites. Launch occurred at 2156 GMT (5:56 p.m. EDT).

Electrical problem prompted Ariane 5 countdown abort

September 9, 2017 Stephen Clark

An electrical problem on one of the Ariane 5 rocket’s two solid rocket boosters led to an on-pad launch abort Tuesday, likely delaying liftoff with two U.S.-built communications satellites until around the end of September, Arianespace officials said.

Last-second launch abort grounds two U.S.-built communications satellites

September 5, 2017 Stephen Clark

An Ariane 5 countdown in French Guiana was aborted Tuesday with the European-made rocket’s main engine already running, postponing the launch of two commercial communications satellites until engineers can resolve the problem.

Video: Ariane 5 countdown halted after engine start

September 5, 2017 Stephen Clark

Liftoff of an Ariane 5 rocket from a tropical launch pad in South America was halted moments after its main engine ignited Tuesday in a rare last-second abort for the heavy-lift launcher.

Photos: Ariane 5 rolls to launch pad

September 5, 2017 Stephen Clark

These photos show Monday’s rollout of an Ariane 5 rocket on a 1.7-mile journey to its launch pad at the Guiana Space Center in South America.

Launch timeline for Ariane 5’s flight with Intelsat 37e and BSAT 4a

September 5, 2017 Stephen Clark

An Ariane 5 rocket will fire into the sky from French Guiana just after sunset Tuesday and deliver two payloads to orbit for Intelsat, one of the world’s largest commercial satellite operators, and Broadcasting Satellite System Corp. of Japan.

Live coverage: Ariane 5 launch aborted

September 5, 2017 Stephen Clark

The launch of a European Ariane 5 rocket was aborted moments after its main engine ignited Tuesday. The dramatic last-second hold was the first time an Ariane rocket launch was aborted after engine start since March 2011. Arianespace has not set a new target launch date for the mission, which will loft two U.S.-built communications satellites for Intelsat and B-SAT.

‘Big three’ nab commercial launch contracts

September 15, 2015 Stephen Clark

SpaceX announced Monday two new Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rocket missions from Cape Canaveral, Arianespace said it cinched a contract to launch a Japanese TV broadcasting satellite, and International Launch Services revealed a deal to launch a Spanish telecommunications payload, ending a drought in commercial Proton launch orders.