BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the launch of Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket carrying the ASTRA 1L and Galaxy 17 communications spacecraft. Reload this page for the latest on the mission.

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2007

European and American communications satellites shared a ride to space Friday night aboard an Ariane 5 rocket, together becoming the heftiest dual payload ever lofted by the powerful commercial booster.

After a one-day delay due to unfavorable high-altitude winds, the 32nd flight of Ariane 5 roared off the jungle launch pad at 2229 GMT (6:29 p.m. EDT) from Kourou, French Guiana on South America's northeastern coast.

The liquid hydrogen-fueled Vulcain 2 main engine and twin solid rocket boosters accelerated the vehicle into the night sky. Enclosed in the rocket's nose cone were the satellite passengers -- the ASTRA 1L and Galaxy 17 communications spacecraft. The payloads and associated adapter equipment topped 20,680 pounds, setting a new weight record for the heavy-lift Ariane 5.

The solid motors burned out and jettisoned after a couple of minutes, leaving the cryogenic main stage to push the rocket before finishing its firing 104 miles over the Atlantic. The stage was shed to fall back to Earth.

The ECA upper stage then began its 15-minute propulsive job to inject the payload into a highly elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit with an apogee of 22,344 miles, perigee of 154 miles and inclination of 5.9 degrees to the equator.

About 27 minutes after liftoff, the European ASTRA 1L direct-to-home television satellite was released from atop the payload stack.

ASTRA 1L will join a dozen spacecraft in a constellation operated by SES ASTRA of Luxembourg. The system relays more than 1,800 television and radio channels to 109 million households in Europe. Lockheed Martin built ASTRA 1L using its A2100AX model design. The 9,900-pound craft is equipped with 29 Ku-band and two Ka-Band transponders to transmit programming directly to small receiving dishes on homes.

The spacecraft is headed for geostationary orbit where it will be located at 19.2 degrees East over the equator to begin a 15-year service life.

"We are very proud and satisfied that the ASTRA 1L launch has been a success," said Ferdinand Kayser, president and CEO of SES ASTRA. "ASTRA 1L will allow us to move our satellite ASTRA 2C from 19.2 degrees East to 28.2 East to fulfill the high capacity demand from the U.K. and Irish markets. It will also extend the coverage from the Canary Islands in the West to the Russian border in the East and help us to further strengthen our unique in-orbit back-up scheme."

Once ASTRA 1L was deployed from the Ariane 5, the barrel-like Sylda payload adapter was jettisoned to expose Galaxy 17 for its release from the rocket. The successful separation of Galaxy 17 from the upper stage to complete the launch came 32 minutes into the flight.

Galaxy 17 carries 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders for beaming video, voice and data transmissions across North America and the Caribbean for operator Intelsat. The 9,000-pound satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space using the Spacebus 3000 B3 design.

The satellite should enter service in July from the geostationary position at 74 degrees West above the equator, expanding Intelsat's orbiting fleet to 52 satellites.

Intelsat's future plans foresee Galaxy 17 being relocated to the 91-degree slot to join the firm's cable television relay network.

"We believe Galaxy 17 will be in demand from customers seeking high-powered C- and Ku-band capacity in North America. The 91-degree W orbital location is ideal for serving the media community, and is also well positioned to serve the data network and government markets," said Intelsat, Ltd. CEO David McGlade.

Galaxy 17 was the 45th Intelsat satellite to launch aboard an Ariane rocket since 1983.

"About 60 percent of Intelsat satellites have been launched by Arianespace, and this fall, we will launch two more satellites for Intelsat," said Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall. "I want to thank Intelsat for the confidence it has had in our company from the very beginning."

A familiar face in attendance to watch Friday's launch was NASA Administrator Mike Griffin. Later this year, an Ariane 5 rocket will ferry to orbit the first European-built Automated Transfer Vehicle cargo resupply freighter for the International Space Station.

"I am very pleased and honored to welcome tonight a U.S. delegation led by my personal friend, Mike Griffin, the NASA administrator," Le Gall said. "This delegation is visiting our facility in preparation for the historic ATV launch."

Up next on the Ariane 5 schedule is another commercial satellite deployment mission. The August launch will carry the American Spaceway 3 broadband communications satellite and the Japanese BSAT 3A direct-to-home TV spacecraft. It will be the third of six Ariane 5s intended to fly in 2007.

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

The Ariane 5 rocket has achieved its 29th successful launch and the 18th in a row.

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

Plus+32 minutes, 45 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The Galaxy 17 communications satellite has been released from the Ariane 5 rocket's upper stage, completing today's launch.

Galaxy 17 carries 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders for beaming video, voice and other services across North America for operator Intelsat. The 9,000-pound satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space using the Spacebus 3000 B3 design.

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

Plus+31 minutes. Altitude is 1,680 km, velocity is 8.5 km/sec.

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

Plus+29 minutes, 26 seconds. The barrel-like "Sylda" payload adapter between ASTRA 1L and the Galaxy 17 satellites has been jettisoned. This has exposed Galaxy 17 for its upcoming release from the rocket.

2257 GMT (6:57 p.m. EDT)

Plus+28 minutes. Altitude is 1,098 km, velocity is 9.0 km/sec.

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

Plus+27 minutes, 5 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The ASTRA 1L direct-to-home television satellite has been released from the Ariane 5 rocket's upper stage.

ASTRA 1L will join a constellation of spacecraft operated by SES ASTRA of Luxembourg. The system relays more than 1,800 television and radio channels to 109 million households in Europe. Lockheed Martin built ASTRA 1L using its A2100AX model design. The 9,900-pound craft is equipped with 29 Ku-band and two Ka-Band transponders to transmit programming directly to small receiving dishes on homes.

2253 GMT (6:53 p.m. EDT)

Plus+24 minutes, 45 seconds. The new cryogenic upper stage for Ariane 5 has just shut down to complete its burn for today's launch. The stage will prepare for deployment of the two satellite payloads a few minutes from now.

2253 GMT (6:53 p.m. EDT)

Plus+24 minutes. Altitude is 520 km, velocity is 9.2 km/sec.

2252 GMT (6:52 p.m. EDT)

Plus+23 minutes. Less than two minutes of propulsion remains in the upper stage. Altitude is 423 km, velocity is 9.1 km/sec.

2251 GMT (6:51 p.m. EDT)

Plus+22 minutes. Altitude is 345 km, velocity is 8.9 km/sec.

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

Plus+21 minutes. Altitude is 283 km, velocity is 8.8 km/sec.

2249 GMT (6:49 p.m. EDT)

Plus+20 minutes. Just under five minutes remain in this firing of the upper stage.

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

Plus+19 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 218 km, velocity is 8.5 km/sec.

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

Plus+18 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 190 km, velocity is 8.3 km/sec.

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

Plus+17 minutes. Altitude is 165 km, velocity is 8.14 km/sec.

2245 GMT (6:45 p.m. EDT)

Plus+16 minutes. The vehicle is on the upward climb again. Altitude is 157 km, velocity is 7.9 km/sec.

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

Plus+15 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 155 km, velocity is 7.8 km/sec.

2243 GMT (6:43 p.m. EDT)

Plus+14 minutes. Altitude is 154 km, velocity is 7.6 km/sec.

2241 GMT (6:41 p.m. EDT)

Plus+12 minutes. Altitude is 160 km, velocity is 7.3 km/sec.

2240 GMT (6:40 p.m. EDT)

Plus+11 minutes. Altitude is 164 km, velocity is 7.18 km/sec. The cryogenic upper stage motor continues to fire.

2239 GMT (6:39 p.m. EDT)

Plus+10 minutes. Altitude is 166 km, velocity is 7.0 km/sec. The cryogenic upper stage motor continues to fire.

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

Plus+9 minutes, 12 seconds. The upper stage of the Ariane 5 ECA rocket is up and burning to accelerate the payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

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

Plus+9 minutes, 1 second. 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.

2237 GMT (6:37 p.m. EDT)

Plus+8 minutes. Coming up on main stage shutdown in about one minute. Altitude is 167 km, velocity is 5.7 km/sec.

2236 GMT (6:36 p.m. EDT)

Plus+7 minutes. The rocket's climb has leveled out as designed. This temporary trajectory is needed in order to gain speed. Altitude is 170 km, velocity is 4.6 km/sec.

2235 GMT (6:35 p.m. EDT)

Plus+6 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude is 170 km, velocity is 4.12 km/sec.

2235 GMT (6:35 p.m. EDT)

Plus+6 minutes. The main stage's Vulcain 2 engine continues to fire as it burns a mixture of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen rocket fuel. Altitude is now 168 km, with a speed of 3.7 km/sec.

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

Plus+4 minutes, 40 seconds. Ariane 5 is 151 km in altitude and traveling at 2.8 km/sec.

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

Plus+4 minutes. Trajectory is right on course. The rocket is 135 km in altitude and traveling at 2.5 km/sec.

2232 GMT (6:32 p.m. EDT)

Plus+3 minutes, 30 seconds. Separation of the rocket's nose cone has been confirmed.

2231 GMT (6:31 p.m. EDT)

Plus+2 minutes, 24 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.

2230 GMT (6:30 p.m. EDT)

Plus+1 minute, 40 seconds. The vehicle is 32 km in altitude. Less than a minute left in the burn by the solid rocket boosters. The boosters are providing 90 percent of the liftoff thrust.

2230 GMT (6:30 p.m. EDT)

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. The vehicle is 10 km in altitude already.

2229 GMT (6:29 p.m. EDT)

Plus+35 seconds. Pitch and roll maneuvers has been performed by the Ariane 5 vehicle to position itself on the correct eastward heading bound for geosynchronous transfer orbit with the ASTRA 1L and the Galaxy 17 broadcasting spacecraft.

2229 GMT (6:29 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Ariane 5 rocket ferrying to orbit television satellites for Europe and North America!

2228 GMT (6:28 p.m. EDT)

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

2228 GMT (6:28 p.m. EDT)

Minus-1 minute. Final 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.

2227 GMT (6:27 p.m. EDT)

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

2226 GMT (6:26 p.m. EDT)

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.

2225 GMT (6:25 p.m. EDT)

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

2223 GMT (6:23 p.m. EDT)

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.

2222 GMT (6:22 p.m. EDT)

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.

2218 GMT (6:18 p.m. EDT)

Minus-11 minutes and counting. The command center's status board is all green, indicating there are no launch constraints at this time, including the weather. The countdown is headed to the Synchronized Sequence that assumes control of the clock in the final seven minutes to launch.

Launch time remains scheduled for 2229 GMT, which is the opening of today's 44-minute window.

2145 GMT (5:45 p.m. EDT)

As darkness falls at the jungle launch site in Kourou, the bright white rocket is bathed in powerful lights on the pad as the final minutes of the countdown pass. It is another cloudy night. We'll be awaiting word from Arianespace on the status of high-altitude winds and if the weather is "go" or "no go" for an on-time launch.

1930 GMT (3:30 p.m. EDT)

The Ariane 5 rocket is being refueled with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants for today's planned 2229 GMT launch carrying the ASTRA 1L and Galaxy 17 communications satellites. The launch team recycled the countdown following last night's weather scrub. Officials are hoping for better luck this evening.

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007

Unfavorable high-altitude winds prevented the Ariane 5 rocket from launching tonight, forcing Arianespace to postpone the commercial satellite deployment mission by 24 hours.

The giant rocket stood on the launch pad fueled and ready to fly as rain fell on the Guiana Space Center. Although the precipitation wasn't to blame for holding up the liftoff, wind conditions aloft were out of limits.

Countdown clocks proceeded to the Minus-7 minute mark and then stopped while officials assessed the situation. The day's launch opportunity ran 44 minutes, which gave the launch team a chance for some weather improvement before the window would run out.

But once additional data was received from a weather probe indicating conditions were still "no go" for launch, any optimism for the liftoff attempt evaporated.

"We have decided, as a result, to not launch tonight. We will try again tomorrow," Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall announced at 2246 GMT.

The cryogenic propellants will be drained from the rocket stages tonight and the countdown turned around for another shot Friday.

The launch window for the next attempt is 2229 to 2313 GMT (6:29-7:13 p.m. EDT).

The Ariane 5's mission will deliver to orbit the European ASTRA 1L direct-to-home television satellite and the Galaxy 17 communications craft to serve North America.

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

SCRUB! Liftoff has been postponed for tonight. Another try will be made Friday evening.

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

There has been no further word from Arianespace on the weather outlook. The count remains holding.

2232 GMT (6:32 p.m. EDT)

Weather remains "no go" for launch. Officials have paused the countdown at Minus-7 minutes while the weather situation is watched in hopes of getting the Ariane 5 launched tonight.

2222 GMT (6:22 p.m. EDT)

Minus-7 minutes and holding. The countdown has been stopped due to unfavorable weather conditions at the launch site. Clocks must resume ticking by 2306 GMT (7:06 p.m. EDT) in order to lift off at the very end of tonight's launch opportunity, which is 2313 GMT (7:13 p.m. EDT).

This is the desired point in the count to hold. After Minus-7 minutes, the Synchronized Sequence is activated to govern the final phase of the countdown.

2212 GMT (6:12 p.m. EDT)

Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall says the countdown will be going into a hold due to the weather. If the conditions don't improve by about 2305 GMT, the launch would have to be scrubbed for the day.

2210 GMT (6:10 p.m. EDT)

Minus-19 minutes and counting. Ariane 536 is fueled up and ready to go fly. But it is a rainy evening at the jungle launch site in Kourou. Weather conditions are "no go" at this time. Unless things change for the positive, the count will enter a hold at Minus-7 minutes.

Today's window in which to launch extends from 2229 to 2313 GMT (6:29-7:13 p.m. EDT).

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007

An Ariane 5 rocket is poised on the launch pad and clocks are ticking down for today's liftoff carrying a pair of geostationary telecommunications satellites to serve Europe and North America.

Liftoff is set for 2229 GMT (6:29 p.m. EDT) from the space base in Kourou, French Guiana on South America's northeastern coast. The launch window extends 44 minutes.

The ASTRA 1L direct-to-home television satellite and the Galaxy 17 communications craft are mounted atop the Ariane 5 ECA rocket, which was rolled to the ELA-3 launch pad Wednesday morning. This version of the Ariane 5 launcher includes an advanced Vulcain 2 first stage main engine and a cryogenic upper stage.

ASTRA 1L will join a constellation of spacecraft operated by SES ASTRA of Luxembourg. The system relays more than 1,800 television and radio channels to 109 million households in Europe. Lockheed Martin built ASTRA 1L using its A2100AX model design. The 4,500 kg craft is equipped with 29 Ku-band and two Ka-Band transponders to transmit programming directly to small receiving dishes on homes.

Galaxy 17 carries 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders for beaming video, voice and other services across North America for operator Intelsat. The 4,100 kg satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space using the Spacebus 3000 B3 design.

Launch day countdown operations began at 1059 GMT (6:59 a.m. EDT) this morning. Fueling of the rocket with its load of super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant will begin at about 1730 GMT (1:30 p.m. EDT).

Computers will assume control of the countdown seven minutes prior to launch. The synchronized launch sequence governs a fast-paced series of automated events transitioning the rocket and payload to internal power, pressurizing fuel tanks, and switching systems to flight mode.

When clocks reach zero, the Vulcain main engine will fire to life, followed seven seconds later by ignition of the two solid rocket boosters and liftoff.

The twin solid-fueled motors will burn out and jettison 2 minutes, 20 seconds after launch, and the protective payload fairing will be unlatched and released at Plus+3 minutes, 11 seconds. The Ariane 5's first stage will be shut down at Plus+8 minutes, 57 seconds, and the spent stage will separate six seconds later. The upper stage's HM-7B engine will begin the final push toward orbit at Plus+9 minutes, 7 seconds.

After burning for more than 15 minutes, the cryogenic upper stage engine will cut off at Plus+24 minutes, 58 seconds. Deployment of ASTRA 1L is scheduled for Plus+27 minutes, 15 seconds. The dual payload adapter gets ejected at Plus+29 minutes, 36 seconds. Galaxy 17 will be released into space at Plus+32 minutes, 54 seconds to complete the launch.

This launch will be the 32nd flight of the Ariane 5 rocket, and the 176th mission for the Ariane rocket family since its debut in 1979.

Watch this page for live updates during the flight!