Ariane Successfully Launches SPOT 5 to Sun-Synchronous Orbit

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Ariane Successfully Launches SPOT 5 to Sun-Synchronous Orbit

More Information:

An Ariane 42P successfully launched SPOT 5 from Kourou, pad ELA 2, at 0131 UTC on May 4. The imaging spacecraft will be placed into a sun-synchronous orbit of 813 km at 98.74 degrees.

The 3030 kg (6666 lbm) Satellite Probatoire de l'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) spacecraft was built by Astrium, with payloads provided by Alcatel Space. The satellite has a 5 year design life, and will have a beginning of life power of 2.350 kW.

The launch also carried two auxiliary satellites, called IDEFIX, for France AMSAT. The 6 kg picosats will be placed into orbit without separating from the third stage. IDEFIX are educational satellites, involving the transmission of telemetry and prerecorded vocal messages. They are designed for an orbital life of 25 to 60 days and will be activated 10 - 15 days after the launch. Both picosats will transmit NBFM voice recorded messages and digital telemetry data, the first one on 145,840 MHz and the other one one 435,270 MHz.

Spot Image's main shareholders are CNES (35%), private industrial groups, including Astrium (formerly Matra Marconi Space) which is prime contractor for the SPOT satellites (23%), the French National Geographic Institute (IGN - 10%), and shares held by government and private entities in Belgium, Sweden and Italy (11%).

Only four Ariane 4 rockets remain in the Arianespace inventory.

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May 3, 2002