Tag Archives: VA244

Flight VA244 at a glance

For its fourth launch of the year, Arianespace will orbit four more satellites (satellites 23 to 26) for the Galileo constellation. This mission is being performed on behalf of the European Commission under a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA).

VA244 Mission description

VA244 Mission description

For the third time, an Ariane 5 ES version will be used to orbit satellites in Europe’s own satellite navigation system; with all Galileo spacecraft having been launched to date by Arianespace. Ariane 6 will take over from 2020. Read more…

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Call for media: Galileo 23-26 close to launch

The last four Galileo satellites of the second FOC (Full Operational Capability) batch are scheduled for launch on 25 July at 11:25 GMT (13:25 CEST, 08:25 local time) from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on an Ariane 5 rocket, designated Flight VA244 by Arianespace.

Protective fairing made ready to be lowered over Galileo satellites 23–26 atop their Ariane 5 inside the BAF Final Assembly Building on Thursday 12 July, ahead of the launch of Arianespace Flight VA244 on Wednesday 25 July

Protective fairing ready to be lowered over Galileo satellites 23–26 atop their Ariane 5

This launch will be the third and last one using a customised Ariane 5 ES launcher, placing the next four Galileo satellites into the last of the three Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) circular orbits at an altitude of 23 222 km. Read more…

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Europe’s next Galileo satellites in place atop Ariane 5

Europe’s next Galileo satellites have been put in place on top of the Ariane 5 launcher due to lift them from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on Wednesday 25 July.

Galileo satellites 23-26 were lifted to the top of their Ariane 5 launcher inside the BAF ‘Bâtiment d’Assemblage’ building on Wednesday 11 July, ahead of their Wednesday 25 July 2018 launch.

Galileo satellites 23-26 were lifted to the top of their Ariane 5 launcher inside the BAF ‘Bâtiment d’Assemblage’ building on Wednesday 11 July, ahead of their Wednesday 25 July 2018 launch.

The launcher – appearing headless in the absence of its final payload – was moved from the BIL Launcher Integration Building, where it was assembled, to the BAF Final Assembly Building, ready for the Galileo satellites to be mated with it. Read more…

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Next four Galileo satellites fuelled for launch

Europe’s next four Galileo satellites have been fuelled at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in preparation for their launch on 25 July.

Technicians on SCAPE (Self Contained Atmospheric Protection Ensemble) suits to fill Galileo satellites 23-26 with hydrazine fuel. This operation took place in the Guiana Space Centre's S3B payload preparation building on 29 June 2018

Technicians on SCAPE (Self Contained Atmospheric Protection Ensemble) suits to fill Galileo satellites 23-26 with hydrazine fuel. This operation took place in the Guiana Space Centre’s S3B payload preparation building on 29 June 2018

The four satellites were placed into their protective containers to be transported from the S1A processing building to the S3B payload preparation building, where they were filled with the hydrazine fuel that will keep the satellites manoeuverable during their 12-year working lives. Read more…

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Four Galileos plus the Ariane 5 launcher at Europe’s Spaceport for July launch

Galileo satellites 25 and 26 have landed at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, joining their two predecessors ahead of their 25 July launch by Ariane 5.

One of the two Galileo satellites 25 and 26 being unloaded from their Boeing 747 cargo jet at Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana on 1 June 2018. The satellites travel inside protective air-conditioned containers.

One of the two Galileo satellites 25 and 26 being unloaded from their Boeing 747 cargo jet at Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana on 1 June 2018. The satellites travel inside protective air-conditioned containers.

The pair left Luxembourg Airport on a Boeing 747 cargo jet on the morning of 1 June, arriving at Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport in French Guiana that evening. Read more…

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Next Galileo launch begins processing in French Guiana

Two of the four Galileo satellites shown inside the S1A payload preparation facility. VA244

Two of the four Galileo satellites shown inside the S1A payload preparation facility. VA244

Payload preparations have begun for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission in support of Europe’s Galileo global navigation system, with two of the four satellites for launch on this July 2018 flight now undergoing their checkout at the Spaceport.

These two spacecraft arrived at French Guiana’s Félix Eboué Airport earlier this month aboard a 747 cargo jetliner, and were then unloaded and transported by road to the Spaceport’s S1A payload preparation facility. The third and fourth Galileo satellites will be delivered to the equatorial launch base in June. Read more…

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