BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW WRITERS

November 21, 2000 -- Follow the preparations and launch of the Anik F1 communications satellite aboard an Arianespace Ariane 4 rocket. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2000

The most powerful commercial communications satellite ever was hurled into space on Tuesday night, setting Arianespace cargo records and blazing the trail for future powerhouse satellites along the way. Read our full launch story.

0018 GMT (7:18 p.m. EST)

Plus+22 minutes. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! Canada's Anik F1 telecommunications satellite has been released into space from the Ariane 4 rocket's third stage, completing tonight's successful launch of Arianespace Flight 136.

The Boeing-built craft will be used by operator Telesat for digital communications across North and South America from its position at 107.3 degrees West in geostationary orbit. The powerhouse satellite features 48 Ku-band and 36 C-band transponders and weighs over five tons.

This marks the 59th consecutive success for Ariane 4.

0016 GMT (7:16 p.m. EST)

Plus+20 minutes, 30 seconds. Just over a minute to payload separation. Altitude is 405 km, velocity 9.6 km/sec.

0015 GMT (7:15 p.m. EST)

Plus+19 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 326 km, velocity 9.6 km/sec.

0015 GMT (7:15 p.m. EST)

Plus+19 minutes, 5 seconds. Third stage has shut down to complete the powered phase of flight. The stage will now provide the necessary pointing for deployment of the Anik F1 spacecraft in the next two minutes.

0014 GMT (7:14 p.m. EST)

Plus+18 minutes. Under a minute left in the third stage burn. The Libreville tracking station in Africa has acquired the Ariane 4 rocket. Altitude is 247 km, velocity 9.3 km/sec.

0012 GMT (7:12 p.m. EST)

Plus+16 minutes, 10 seconds. The rocket has bottomed out in its sling-shot to orbit and is now climbing higher. Altitude is 209 km, velocity 8.4 km/sec. The cryogenic third stage engine continues to fire.

0011 GMT (7:11 p.m. EST)

Plus+15 minutes. Altitude is 205 km, velocity 7.9 km/sec.

0010 GMT (7:10 p.m. EST)

Plus+14 minutes. Less than five minutes left in the third stage burn. Officials report all data coming from the rocket indicate systems are working as planned. Altitude is 208 km, velocity 7.6 km/sec.

0008 GMT (7:08 p.m. EST)

Plus+12 minutes, 15 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 222 km, velocity 7.03 km/sec.

0006 GMT (7:06 p.m. EST)

Plus+10 minutes, 30 seconds. 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 233 km, velocity 6.5 km/sec.

0005 GMT (7:05 p.m. EST)

Plus+9 minutes. Third stage burn goes on. Altitude 231 km, velocity 6.12 km/sec.

0003 GMT (7:03 p.m. EST)

Plus+7 minutes. The Natal tracking station in Brazil has picked up the rocket's signal as it travels downrange. Altitude is 204 km, downrange distance 5.69 km/sec.

0002 GMT (7:02 p.m. EST)

Plus+6 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 192 km, downrange distance 5.6 km/sec.

0002 GMT (7:02 p.m. EST)

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. Vehicle remains on course and free of any reported problems.

0001 GMT (7:01 p.m. EST)

Plus+5 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 158 km, downrange distance 5.3 km/sec.

0001 GMT (7:01 p.m. EST)

Plus+5 minutes. The payload fairing has been jettisoned since it is no longer needed to shield the Anik F1 spacecraft.

0000 GMT (7:00 p.m. EST)

Plus+4 minutes. Second stage engine up and burning normally. Altitude is 112 km, downrange distance 3.6 km/sec.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2000
2359 GMT (6:59 p.m. EST)

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

2358 GMT (6:58 p.m. EST)

Plus+2 minutes, 40 seconds. The four strap-on rocket motors have burned out and separated as planned. The first stage four main engines continue to fire.

2358 GMT (6:58 p.m. EST)

Plus+2 minutes. About a half-minute in the liquid-propellant booster burn.

2357 GMT (6:57 p.m. EST)

Plus+90 seconds. The Ariane 4 rocket continues on the proper track. The eight liquid-fueled engines firing on the base of vehicle is creating a bright white streak across the night sky.

2357 GMT (6:57 p.m. EST)

Plus+60 seconds. All vehicle systems performing normally.

2356 GMT (6:56 p.m. EST)

Plus+30 seconds. Ariane is in the pitch maneuver to achieve the proper trajectory eastward away from the launch site. Main engines and four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters are all firing to propel the vehicle away from its jungle launch site in South America.

2356 GMT (6:56 p.m. EST)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the European Ariane 4 rocket with its heaviest satellite cargo -- Canada's Anik F1 telecommunications spacecraft. And the vehicle has cleared the tower.

2355 GMT (6:55 p.m. EST)

Minus-1 minute. Equipment aboard the Ariane 44L rocket is being switched off ground-supplied power and 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.

2353 GMT (6:53 p.m. EST)

Minus-3 minutes and counting. Flight 136 will be the 11th Ariane launch so far in 2000 and the 136th in the entire Ariane program. It will be the 101st Ariane 4 mission and the 30th for the Ariane 44L version with four liquid strap-on rocket boosters.

2352 GMT (6:52 p.m. EST)

Minus-4 minutes and counting. The launch team is monitoring 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 Anik F1 spacecraft will be confirmed on internal power and declared ready for launch.

2350 GMT (6:50 p.m. EST)

Minus-6 minutes. The synchronized launch sequence has started. Computers are now in control of this final segment of the launch countdown.

During the next six minutes, the Ariane 44L 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.

2349 GMT (6:49 p.m. EST)

Minus-7 minutes and counting. Arianespace reports all systems are "go" for an on-time liftoff tonight. The final weather update shows conditions are acceptable for launch at 2356 GMT

The computer-run synchronized sequence to govern the final countdown to launch will start in one minute.

2345 GMT (6:45 p.m. EST)

Minus-11 minutes. The countdown continues smoothly. Liftoff remains set to occur at 2356 GMT (6:56 p.m. EST).

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, 30 seconds into flight the Natal station in Brazil will pick up the rocket's signal as the third stage burn gets underway. At T+plus 12 minutes, 30 seconds the site on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean will begin coverage. Libreville in Gabon will provide services beginning at T+plus 17 minutes, 15 seconds for spacecraft separation and the conclusion of Arianespace Flight 136.

2339 GMT (6:39 p.m. EST)

Minus-17 minutes. The Ariane 44L rocket stands 54.4 meters tall and weighs 486 metric tons at liftoff. The Anik F1 spacecraft accounts for 4,711 kg (10,364 pounds) of that weight, marking the heaviest payload to be launched by an Ariane 4 vehicle.

2336 GMT (6:36 p.m. EST)

Minus-20 minutes. Launch team members are watching systems on the Ariane 4 rocket, Anik F1 spacecraft and ground support equipment. Everything is working as planned, officials say, and the weather is acceptable for this evening's launch.

The rocket is now fully fueled at the ELA-2 launch pad. The first and second stages and four liquid strap-on motors were loaded with storable propellants earlier this week. The third stage was filled with cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen over the last three hours.

2326 GMT (6:26 p.m. EST)

Now inside a half-hour to the launch of Arianespace Flight 136. All systems are reported to be "go" at the Guiana Space Center for liftoff at 2356 GMT.

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

The final hours of the countdown are ticking by in Kourou, French Guiana along South America's northeastern coastline as Arianespace fuels an Ariane 44L rocket for launch tonight at 2356 GMT (6:56 p.m. EST). The status panel in the Jupiter Control Center is green across the board, indicating there are no problems being worked with the ground, Canadian Anik F1 communications satellite payload, weather or ground support systems.

We will begin our live continuous coverage of the launch starting at T-minus 20 minutes.

0501 GMT (12:01 a.m. EST)

Continuing with its rigorous schedule for 2000, Arianespace hopes to tally another success tonight with the launch of an Ariane 4 rocket carrying a Canadian telecommunications spacecraft.

Flight 136's Ariane 44L launch vehicle, which includes four liquid-fueled boosters attached to an Ariane 4 base vehicle, is standing inside of its 321-foot tall mobile service gantry awaiting for its order to come to life this evening. Flight 136's launch window opens at 2356 GMT on November 21 and closes at 0026 GMT on November 22 (6:56 p.m.-7:26 p.m. EST on Nov. 21). The launch will take place from ELA-2 sea-side launch pad in the Amazon jungles of South America at Kourou, French Guiana.

On this mission, Arianespace will haul the Anik F1 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit for Telesat Canada. In the works since 1998, the Boeing Satellite Systems-built Anik F1 will be positioned in a geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the Pacific Ocean west of the Galapagos Islands at 107.3 degrees West. From that vantage point, Anik F1 will use its 84 transponders -- with 48 transponders in the Ku-band and 36 transponders in the C-band -- for broadcast services throughout North America and for telecommunications, Internet services, and broadcast services to South America during its scheduled 15 years of operation. The spacecraft is based on the powerful Boeing-702 design.

The powerhouse Anik F1 is the first of the new Anik F series from Telesat. Officials say that this craft is the beginning of a new era in satellite communications in the Americas. "We look forward to the successful launch and deployment of Anik F1, Telesat's sixth-generation of geostationary satellites," said Larry Boisvert, President and Chief Executive Officer of Telesat Canada. "Anik F1 is crucial for the provision of continuity of service for Canada and new areas, such as the Americas. With Anik F1, Telesat is moving from being a purely domestic service provider to one that serves all of the Americas - from the northern borders of Canada to the southern-most tip of South America."

The craft's 17.5 kilowatts of electricity will be produced by the satellite's solar arrays, which span 132.5 feet end-to-end when deployed in orbit. The two solar wings that make up the solar arrays will each feature five panels, which include "high efficiency dual-junction gallium arsenide solar cells" built by Spectrolab, another company acquired by Boeing in the recent deal that bought out Hughes Space and Communications and several other companies involved in the satellite industry, Boeing said in a press release.

Telesat Canada and the Anik series of communications satellite represent a rich history in satellite operations. Telesat launched Anik A1 in 1972, making them the first company to launch a domestic commercial communications satellite to geostationary orbit. Boeing and Telesat both say that they have come a long way since that launch 28 years ago. "Anik F1 is the first Boeing 702 to join the Telesat Canada fleet and is the largest capacity satellite we've built to date," stated Tig H. Krekel, President of Boeing Satellite Systems. "We built the first Telesat satellite nearly 30 years ago and this newest generation reflects the integration of decades of experience. Anik F1 offers 15 times the power and almost four times the capacity of those first generation models," Krekel added. "Our tradition of setting precedents continues."

Anik will weigh 10,384 pounds at launch in around 19 hours. Once in its final position in orbit, that mass will be down to 6,647 pounds. With this high weight and Anik F1's associated launch hardware combined, Flight 136 will carry the highest payload mass into geostationary transfer orbit ever on an Ariane 4 mission at 10,670 pounds.

Even with all the power stacked up behind Anik F1, an even more powerful satellite is coming down the assembly line at BSS's production facility in Los Angeles. Anik F2, which was ordered earlier this year by Telesat Canada, will use 108 active transponders -- compared to Anik F1's 84.

To recap what happened over the weekend, workers at the Kourou launch site checked the payload on Flight 136's Ariane 44L rocket, insuring the spacecraft was in tip-top shape for the ride to orbit after the customer raised last-minute concerns on their satellite. Then, the launch vehicle's first stage, second stage, and liquid-fueled boosters were fueled with their storable propellant combination.

Looking ahead to today's countdown and launch, the final countdown will start at 0926 GMT (4:26 a.m. EST). The 321-foot tall service gantry will begin rolling back from around the rocket at 1801 GMT (1:01 p.m. EST). Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, the propellant combination for Ariane 44L's third stage, will begin flowing into the rocket at 2021 GMT (3:21 p.m. EST). Controllers in the Jupiter launch control room will activate the rocket’s telemetry, radar transponders, and telecommand systems at 2251 GMT (5:51 p.m. EST). After a "go" from all elements of the launch countdown, the synchronized launch sequence will begin at 2350 GMT (6:50 p.m. EST). Following this critical milestone, a series of fast-paced pre-launch events occur, culminating with the ignition of the first stage and liquid-fueled booster Viking engines at T-0, followed four-point-four seconds later by liftoff. The ascent will take a nominal Ariane 44L profile with two-and-one-half minute burns of all four liquid-fueled boosters and a three-and-one-half minute burn of the first stage. The second stage will burn for two minutes, and the third stage will burn for thirteen minutes, followed by separation of the spacecraft around twenty-two minutes after launch.

Stay right here with Spaceflight Now for live reports starting around 30 minutes prior to launch.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2000

Less than one week after the mighty Ariane 507 went aloft on its heavyweight mission, an Arianespace Ariane 4 rocket now moves into the spotlight with a powerhouse Canadian Anik F1 telecommunications satellite onboard.

Flight 136's Ariane 44L vehicle and its payload are poised to blastoff from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou on Tuesday evening at 2356 GMT (6:56 p.m. EST). The available launch window extends for exactly 30 minutes.

The mission was originally set for Monday, but was delayed for 24 hours to resolve a last-minute concern with Anik F1 that was raised during pre-flight testing at the pad.

Flying in the Ariane 44L configuration with four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters, the rocket is the most powerful version of the entire Ariane 4 family.

This mission will place the Anik F1 spacecraft into geostationary transfer orbit for Telesat Canada of Gloucester, Ontario. The spacecraft is based on the powerful Boeing 702 design from Boeing Satellite Systems. Anik F1 is the highest capacity satellite BSS, or its predecessor Hughes Space and Communications, has ever built. The satellite's main communications payload consists of 84 active transponders, with 48 in the Ku-band and 36 in the C-band. With the craft positioned in final orbit 22,300 miles above a point at 107.3 degrees West -- west of the Galapagos Island chain -- these 84 transponders will be able to reach users throughout the Americas, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Caribbean, although most of its attention will focus on Canada.

Anik F1 will weigh 10,384 pounds at liftoff on Tuesday evening. Once in orbit, its power-producing solar arrays will produce 17.5 kilowatts of power and will stretch 132.5 feet end-to-end.

Flight 136's launch campaign began on October 18 when perhaps two of the most important events of the processing flow took place. The Anik F1 payload arrived in Kourou from its construction facility in California early in the day, followed shortly thereafter by the campaign start review, a routine review of all needed elements in the launch campaign before undertaking any major tasks.

The erection of the first and second stages atop the mobile launch table occurred on October 19 in the launcher integration building.

The four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters were mated to the Ariane 4 one-at-a-time on October 23-26. Stacking of the third stage and vehicle equipment bay took place on October 26 as well.

Fueling of the Anik F1 payload took place on November 6, beginning a process that takes several days to complete.

The launcher minus its satellite payload was rolled out from the assembly building to the ELA-2 launch pad on November 7. The process is done with the launch vehicle stacked on top of the mobile launch table, which is rolling on a dual-rail system that spans the one-kilometer distance between the two locations.

A launch countdown rehearsal took place on November 10. The start of the final phase of the launch campaign called "combined operations" also started on this day.

Encapsulation of the Anik F1 spacecraft inside of its protective payload fairing was completed on November 13, followed the next day by the transport of the fairing, payload, and adapter to the launch pad. The unit was mated atop the Ariane 4's vehicle equipment bay on Wednesday, November 15.

Last Thursday, the launch rehearsal was performed, followed on Friday by the launch readiness review, where the payload problem responsible for the one-day delay was uncovered. Over the weekend, payload verification operations occurred, formally clearing the payload for launch. That work was conducted in parallel with scheduled launcher preparations, including the fueling of the Ariane 44L's first stage, second stage, and four liquid-fueled boosters with their unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide fuel combination. Monday will be spent making final mechanical preparations on the payload, launch pad, and launcher, while Tuesday will be spent conducting the launch countdown.

Stay with Spaceflight Now throughout the remainder of the launch preparations and the launch for continued in-depth updates.