BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Follow the preparations and launch of the Arianespace Ariane 4 rocket carrying the NSS-7 communications satellite. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2002

The 150th voyage of an Ariane rocket blasted off from the jungles of South America Tuesday evening and soared above the Central Atlantic Ocean to deliver a powerful telecommunications satellite into Earth orbit. Read our full launch story.

2329 GMT (7:29 p.m. EDT)

Arianespace has confirmed tonight's launch successfully delivered NSS-7 into the proper orbit. This marks the 69th success in a row for the Ariane 4 rocket dating back to 1995.

We'll have a full wrap-up story and pictures a bit later this evening.

2325 GMT (7:25 p.m. EDT)

Engineers are now reviewing the data. Arianespace will then confirm success of the launch.

2323 GMT (7:23 p.m. EDT)

Plus+21 minutes, 9 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The NSS-7 telecommunications spacecraft for Netherlands-based New Skies Satellites, built in the U.S. by Lockheed Martin, has been released into space from the third stage, completing tonight's launch of the Ariane 4 rocket.

2322 GMT (7:22 p.m. EDT)

Plus+20 minutes, 20 seconds. Altitude 335 km, velocity 9.64 km/sec.

2321 GMT (7:21 p.m. EDT)

Plus+19 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude 276 km, velocity 9.6 km/sec.

2321 GMT (7:21 p.m. EDT)

Plus+19 minutes, 10 seconds. Confirmation of third stage shut down, completing the powered phase of flight. Orbit has been achieved. The stage will now provide the necessary pointing for deployment of the NSS-7 spacecraft over the next two minutes.

2320 GMT (7:20 p.m. EDT)

Plus+18 minutes, 20 seconds. Standing by for cutoff of the third stage. Vehicle parameters and trajectory all reported normal. Altitude is 222 km, velocity 9.3 km/sec.

2320 GMT (7:20 p.m. EDT)

Plus+18 minutes. The Libreville tracking station in Africa has acquired the rocket's signal. Altitude is 211 km, velocity 9.2 km/sec.

2319 GMT (7:19 p.m. EDT)

Plus+17 minutes, 30 seconds. Less than 90 seconds remaining in the third stage burn. Altitude is 199 km, velocity 8.9 km/sec.

2318 GMT (7:18 p.m. EDT)

Plus+16 minutes, 35 seconds. The Ariane 4 is now gaining altitude again. Altitude is 187.7 km, velocity 8.5 km/sec.

2318 GMT (7:18 p.m. EDT)

Plus+16 minutes. Altitude is 185.5 km, velocity 8.3 km/sec.

2317 GMT (7:17 p.m. EDT)

Plus+15 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude 186 km, velocity 8.1 km/sec.

2316 GMT (7:16 p.m. EDT)

Plus+14 minutes, 35 seconds. The Ariane rocket continues to gain speed. Altitude is 191 km, velocity 7.7 km/sec.

2314 GMT (7:14 p.m. EDT)

Plus+12 minutes, 55 seconds. Altitude is 209 km, velocity 7.1 km/sec.

2314 GMT (7:14 p.m. EDT)

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 216 km, velocity 6.9 km/sec.

2313 GMT (7:13 p.m. EDT)

Plus+11 minutes, 10 seconds. This is now the period in flight where the Ariane rocket levels off and stops climbing in altitude in order to gain speed. Altitude is 226 km, velocity 6.6 km/sec.

2312 GMT (7:12 p.m. EDT)

Plus+10 minutes, 20 seconds. Altitude 231 km, velocity 6.2 km/sec.

2311 GMT (7:11 p.m. EDT)

Plus+9 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude 232.3 km, velocity 6.1 km/sec.

2310 GMT (7:10 p.m. EDT)

Plus+8 minutes. Third stage burn continues normally, Arianespace says. Altitude 221 km, velocity 5.8 km/sec.

2309 GMT (7:09 p.m. EDT)

Plus+7 minutes. The Natal tracking station in Brazil has picked up the rocket's signal as it travels downrange. Altitude is 202 km, velocity 5.6 km/sec.

2308 GMT (7:08 p.m. EDT)

Plus+6 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 189 km, velocity 5.5 km/sec.

2308 GMT (7:08 p.m. EDT)

Plus+6 minutes. The second stage has burned out and separated. And the cryogenic upper stage has ignited for its lengthy burn to deliver the NSS-7 satellite payload into the desired geosynchronous transfer orbit.

2307 GMT (7:07 p.m. EDT)

Plus+5 minutes. No problems reported by Arianespace thus far in the flight of the Ariane 4 rocket. Altitude is 138 km, velocity 4.4 km/sec.

2306 GMT (7:06 p.m. EDT)

Plus+4 minutes, 30 seconds. The payload fairing has been jettisoned since it is no longer needed to shield the NSS-7 spacecraft.

2306 GMT (7:06 p.m. EDT)

Plus+4 minutes, 5 seconds. Altitude is 107 km, velocity 3.3 km/sec.

2305 GMT (7:05 p.m. EDT)

Plus+3 minutes, 45 seconds. The second stage has now ignited.

2305 GMT (7:05 p.m. EDT)

Plus+3 minutes, 35 seconds. The four first stage main engines have shut down and stage separation confirmed.

2305 GMT (7:05 p.m. EDT)

Plus+3 minutes. Altitude 62 km, velocity 2.2 km/sec.

2304 GMT (7:04 p.m. EDT)

Plus+2 minutes, 35 seconds. The four liquid-propellant strap-on boosters have shut down and jettisoned from the base of the Ariane 4 rocket to fall into the Atlantic Ocean below. The first stage main engines are still burning to continue the climb to orbit.

2304 GMT (7:04 p.m. EDT)

Plus+2 minutes, 20 seconds. Altitude 51.5 km, velocity 1.6 km/sec.

2303 GMT (7:03 p.m. EDT)

Plus+1 minute, 30 seconds. No problems reported this far in the flight. First stage and four strap-on motors all continue to fire.

2303 GMT (7:03 p.m. EDT)

Plus+1 minute. All parameters reported normal.

2302 GMT (7:02 p.m. EDT)

Plus+30 seconds. Ariane has pitched to the proper eastward trajectory away from the launch site. The rocket is riding the thrust of eight engines -- four liquid-fueled main engines and four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters.

2302 GMT (7:02 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the 150th Ariane rocket and the vehicle has cleared the tower!

2301 GMT (7:01 p.m. EDT)

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.

2300 GMT (7:00 p.m. EDT)

Minus-2 minutes and counting. The third stage liquid oxygen tank has been pressurized for the launch.

2259 GMT (6:59 p.m. EDT)

Minus-3 minutes and counting.

2258 GMT (6:58 p.m. EDT)

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 NSS-7 spacecraft will be confirmed on internal power and declared ready for launch.

2256 GMT (6:56 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes and counting. Arianespace says the issue, whatever it was, has been resolved. So the synchronized launch sequence has started. Computers are now in control of this final portion of the launch countdown. Liftoff is set for 2253 GMT (6:53 p.m. EDT).

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 and liquid strap-on booster 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 4.4 and 4.6 seconds.

2250 GMT (6:50 p.m. EDT)

The constraint to launch involves the "measurements" team. Although the specific problem hasn't been announced, Arianespace says it could range from radar, tracking or telemetry systems.

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

Tonight's available launch window extends to 0014 GMT (8:14 p.m. EDT), giving the launch team plenty of time to assess the situation.

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

Minus-6 minutes and holding. The countdown has been stopped due to some sort of problem. Clocks are held here. Once the count passes the Minus-6 minute mark, the synchronized launch sequence is started to control the operations through liftoff.

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

Minus-7 minutes. The status panel in the control has gone red.

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

Minus-9 minutes. The three-stage rocket is set to deliver the NSS-7 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit of approximately 250 km on the low end and 35,786 km on the high end, with an inclination of 7 degrees. Ariane 4 is going for its 69th consecutive successful launch.

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

Minus-11 minutes and counting. 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, 35 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, 45 seconds for spacecraft separation and the conclusion of Arianespace Flight 150.

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

Minus-15 minutes. Arianespace reports there are no technical problems being worked and the countdown continues on schedule for liftoff as planned at 2253 GMT (6:53 p.m. EDT).

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

Minus-20 minutes and counting down to tonight's launch of the Ariane 44L rocket with the NSS-7 communications spacecraft for New Skies Satellites and manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

The three-stage rocket has been fully fueled and prepared for liftoff at 2253 GMT from the ELA-2 pad at the Guiana Space Center in South America.

Launch team members are watching systems on the Ariane 4 rocket, the spacecraft and ground support equipment. There are no problems being reported. The status panel in the Jupiter control center green across the board, indicating all systems are "go" at this time.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2002

Final prepartions are underway in the South American jungle for this evening's launch of an Ariane 4 rocket carrying a powerful telecommunications satellite.

The European-built rocket remains scheduled for liftoff at 2253 GMT (6:53 p.m. EDT) from the ELA-2 launch complex at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.

The mission's payload is the high power NSS-7 satellite that will provide a varied package of communications services to users in Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

Flight 150 will use an Ariane 44L rocket, the version of the veteran Ariane 4 rocket that includes four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters. This launch will mark the 150th launch of an Ariane rocket, the 111th flight of an Ariane 4, and the 36th mission of an Ariane 44L. Following this launch, just five Ariane 4 launchers will remain to be flown before being taken out of service in favor of the Ariane 5 rocket.

Processing for Flight 150 began on March 13 with the lifting and stacking of the Ariane's first stage. The second stage was added the next day.

The liquid-fueled boosters were put into place one-at-a-time from March 19 to the 22nd. The third stage was placed atop the second stage on March 22 as well.

Flight 150's payload arrived in Kourou on March 19 to begin final tests and preparations before launch. Fueling operations got underway on March 30.

The nearly-complete Ariane 44L rolled out to the ELA-2 launch zone on April 4.

NSS-7 was enclosed inside the Ariane 4 nose cone on April 8, followed the next day by the transfer of the payload and associated equipment to the launch pad. The entire composite was mated to the rocket on April 10.

Last Thursday, the launch team conducted a final complete launch rehearsal to hone their skills before the real countdown.

A launch readiness review was held on Friday, officially clearing the mission for flight. Workers at the pad then hooked up pyrotechnic connections used on the rocket.

On Monday, the first stage, second stage, and four boosters were filled with their loads of unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine fuel and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer.

Looking ahead to Tuesday's pre-launch activities, the final countdown will begin at 1023 GMT (6:23 a.m. EDT). The mobile service gantry that shields the rocket during its stay at the launch pad will begin rolling back to its launch position at around 1718 GMT (1:18 p.m. EDT). At 1918 GMT (3:18 p.m. EDT), super cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen will begin to be loaded aboard the Ariane 44L's cryogenic third stage. The launcher's telemetry, telecommand, and radar transponder systems will be powered on at 2148 GMT (5:48 p.m. EDT). Six minutes prior to launch, computers will take control over the countdown. Following that critical milestone are a series of fast-paced events leading up to the ignition of the first stage engines and the four liquid-fueled boosters, followed about four seconds later by liftoff.

The Ariane 44L will take a normal ascent profile with two-minute, 30-second burns of the four boosters. The first stage will shut down and separate about three-minutes, 30 seconds after liftoff, trailed immediately by second stage ignition. During the two-minute second stage burn, the protective payload fairing will be jettisoned, exposing the NSS-7 satellite to space for the first time. After the second stage burns out, the cryogenic third stage engine will come to life and fire for 13 minutes before cutting off in preparation for spacecraft separation, which is due to occur about 20 minutes, 50 seconds after launch.

Come back to this page for live play-by-play updates during the countdown and launch this evening.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2002

Arianespace's 150th launch is set to take off Tuesday evening with a major new addition to the communications spacecraft fleet of Netherlands-based New Skies Satellites.

Liftoff is scheduled for 2253 GMT (6:53 p.m. EDT) from ELA-2 at Kourou, French Guiana. The launch window extends for 81 minutes.

The most powerful version of the Ariane 4 family -- the Ariane 44L rocket -- will be used with four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters to help lift heavier spacecraft into orbit.

Inside the Ariane 44L's payload fairing is the NSS-7 communications satellite for New Skies Satellites. After launch, NSS-7 will move into the geostationary orbital slot at 21.5 degrees West, or about 22,300 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. There it will replace the aging NSS-K spacecraft, launched in 1992. This position in orbit will also allow NSS-803 -- also located at 21.5 degrees West -- to be moved to a parking spot above the Pacific Ocean at 183 degrees East to replace the aging NSS-513 spacecraft.

Both NSS-K and NSS-803 currently provide the Americas, Europe, and Africa with television, Internet, video, and data processing. NSS-7 will mesh the services of the two existing craft, but will also address other communications needs in the region.  Such needs include corporate networking solutions, telephony, and increased capacity for video and Internet services.

"NSS-7 is the first satellite to have been designed exclusively by New Skies to match our customers' present and future business plans, while being extremely competitive with existing capacity in the region," said Steve Stott, New Skies' chief technology officer. "In addition, with NSS-803 over the Pacific Ocean, we will have upgraded our capacity and capabilities in two distinct regions with one launch."

Built by Lockheed Martin, NSS-7 will weigh 10,362 pounds at launch. The hybrid C-band/Ku-band satellite with 72 total transponders has a design lifetime of approximately 12 years. The high-power craft's solar arrays will produce up to 13.1 kilowatts of electricity at the beginning of life.

NSS-7 was the first satellite New Skies ordered since its creation in December 1998.

New Skies announced earlier this month that two major European telecommunication companies -- Telenor and CPR Marconi -- have signed on for voice and data services using NSS-7. The Albanian Internet service provider Albanian Business Communications will also use the craft.

"The launch of NSS-7 on April 16 will add incremental capacity where our customers need it, allowing us to fulfill the service requirements of innovative companies such as CPR Marconi, Telenor and ABCom," said Howard Farr, New Skies' vice president of sales for Europe. "We want to be a part of their future business plans and NSS-7 will ensure we have the resources to support them."

Headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, New Skies Satellites offers global satellite coverage with five orbiting spacecraft. In addition to NSS-7, two more satellites are under construction: NSS-6 for launch in November to serve Asia and NSS-8 to fly in late 2003 to cover the Americas.

Stay with Spaceflight Now for continued updates and for live play-by-play coverage of the launch on Tuesday.