Latest Ariane Stories

[WATCH VIDEO: Vega Launch Sequence Replay] Lawrence LeBlond for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online After a delayed launch due to strong wind conditions on Saturday May 4, ESA's Vega rocket lifted off early Tuesday (02:06 GMT May 7) on a complex mission to set three payloads into two different orbits. The ESA successfully launched the rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1. Tuesday’s launch was the second mission for...

Lawrence LeBlond for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online Update (May 6 at 10:15 a.m.) ESA’s second Vega flight, VV02, due for a launch this past weekend, was canceled at last minute due to unfavorable weather conditions. The Vega rocket was scheduled to lift off on May 4 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, carrying Proba-V as the prime payload. Proba-V is the first of four ESA missions in the Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment (VERTA) program, which will...

ESA Tucked away in a vacuum chamber for several months, Europe’s largest telecom satellite has faced the harsh conditions it will deal with once it is launched into space this summer. Testing at Intespace in Toulouse, France, simulated conditions close to those Alphasat will experience in flight, including the intense cold of its transfer orbits in the early stages of the mission. Not only was Alphasat’s ability to control its temperature tested, but other features were also put...

ESA [ Watch The Video ] The first Ariane 5 heavy-lift mission of the year has delivered the Azerspace/Africasat-1a and Amazonas-3 telecom satellites into their planned transfer orbits. Liftoff of flight VA212 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana came at 21:36 GMT (22:36 CET; 18:36 French Guiana) right at the opening of the launch window. The target injection orbit had a perigee altitude of 246.9 km, an apogee altitude of 35 895 km with an inclination of 6°. Both satellites...

PARIS, February 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and Arianespace today announced the signature of a long-term multiple launch services agreement which guarantees launch capacity and flexibility to Eutelsat for its industry-leading expansion programme. The agreement covers up to four launches in the 2016 and 2017 timeframe, with the assignment of each satellite to a launch vehicle to be made at a later stage. The new...

KYIV, Ukraine, December 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ukrainian rocket engines are getting difficult to compete with. The European Space Agency equips the upper module of its Vega rockets with the Ukrainian liquid-fuel RD-869 rocket engine. With the creation of Vega, the lightest in its arsenal, Europe should be able to launch rockets of all classes and not depend on Russia and the United States, reports Ukrainian ICTV. Today's technological advancement allow to create...

EVRY, France and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- EchoStar Corp. (NASDAQ: SATS) and Arianespace, SA, have reached an agreement to launch multiple new satellites over a multi-year period from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana. The new contract will provide EchoStar with launch capacity and flexibility for its industry-leading satellite program. "In July, EchoStar's wholly owned subsidiary, Hughes completed the successful launch of EchoStar XVII with Arianespace,...

Lee Rannals for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online The twin Galileo satellites are now fueled and ready for the launch planned for the evening of October 12, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). ESA said that technicians filled up the two satellites' tanks with hydrazine fuel, which is used to maintain the satellites' attitude and orbital position during their 12-year lifetime. The Galileo satellites will be transported to medium orbit by the Fregat fourth stage of their...

[ Watch the Video: Ariane 5's 50th Successful Launch ] Lawrence LeBlond for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online An Ariane 5 rocket launch from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) spaceport in French Guiana on August 2nd marks the 50th successful launch since Ariane rocket lift-offs began in 2003. The latest launch performed a dual deployment of two telecommunications satellites: Intelsat 20 and Hylas-2. The launch marks Ariane 5’s fourth launch of 2012. The lift-off of flight VA208...

PARIS, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Consolidating a relationship now entering into its 30(th) year, Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and Arianespace today announced the conclusion of a new launch services contract for a future Eutelsat satellite. The assignment of the launch to a satellite will be made at a later stage. The contract for an Ariane 5 launch from the Guiana Space Centre provides Eutelsat with launch flexibility and schedule assurance for its in-orbit...