Lift-off of flight V185 took place at 22:44 CEST/Paris on 14 August (20:44 UTC/GMT; 17:44 UTC-3/Kourou).The satellites were accurately injected into the correct transfer orbits about 30 minutes later.

The payload comprised AMC-21, which will provide will provide 24 Ku-band channels of television and enterprise data distribution services over the USA, the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and Superbird 7, which will provide 28 Ku-band channels of broadcast services and mobile terminal links over Japan, eastern Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The payload mass was 8068 kg; the satellite masses totalled 7229 kg, with payload adapters and dispensers making up the additional 839 kg.

This fifth launch of the year keeps Arianespace and Europe's Spaceport on target for the seven missions planned for 2008 - the busiest year ever for Ariane 5. Flight timeline

The Ariane 5's cryogenic, liquid fuelled main engine was ignited first. Seven seconds later, the solid fuel rocket boosters were also fired, and a fraction of a second after that, the launch vehicle lifted off.

The solid boosters were jettisoned 2 min 20 sec after main engine ignition, and the fairing protecting the payload during the climb through the Earth's atmosphere was discarded at 3 min 12 sec. The launcher's main engine was shut down at 8 min 54 sec; 5 seconds later the main cryogenic stage separated from the upper stage and its payload.

4 seconds after main stage separation, the engine of the launcher's cryogenic upper stage was ignited to continue the journey. The upper stage engine was shut down at 24 min: 44 sec into the flight, at which point the launch vehicle was travelling at 9438 metres per second (34 000 km/h) at an altitude of 547 kilometres and the conditions for geostationary transfer orbit injection had been achieved.

At 25 min 42 sec after main engine ignition, Superbird-7 separated from the launcher's upper stage, followed by AMC-21 at 29 min 56 sec.

related report
SES AMC-21 Satellite Launched From Kourou Spaceport
SES S.A. has announced that its AMC-21 satellite, procured by SES' leasing company, SES Satellite Leasing Limited in the Isle of Man, roared into space onboard an Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle from the French Guiana Spaceport in Kourou August 14 at 5:44 p. m. local time (4:44 p.m. Eastern U.S.; 10:44 p.m. CET).

After approximately 30 minutes, the spacecraft separated from the Ariane upper stage and was placed into geostationary transfer orbit.

Approximately 20 minutes later, the satellite sent an initial signal which was received at the Uralla, Australia facility (5:38 p.m. Eastern U.S.; 11:38 p.m. CET).

Rob Bednarek, President and CEO of the recently announced division called SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES said, "This evening's launch of AMC-21 is a great achievement. Beginning with the ordering of the spacecraft in the spring of 2006 to its launch today, the entire mission was completed in 27 months. It is also a proud moment for the Thales-Orbital team, who partnered to build and deliver an exceptional spacecraft, and for the Ariane team who has just launched its 30th spacecraft for SES."

He continued, "We now look forward to bringing AMC-21 into service as we will be establishing a new Ku-band enterprise and broadcast neighborhood in the North American arc at 125 degrees West. Anchoring the new satellite will be the Public Broadcasting Service and several of their local broadcast affiliates. The satellite will also be used for new applications such as maritime mobile broadband."

Blaise Jaeger, Executive Vice President Telecommunication of Thales Alenia Space said, "AMC-21 was the result of some unique design requirements established by SES, which allowed Thales and Orbital to partner and play to our mutual strengths for this particular mission."

He continued, "Our relationship with SES has been successful for more than a decade, and we are now looking ahead to the fall 2008 launch of Ciel-2 for the SES Canadian affiliate, Ciel Satellite Group."

Jean-Yves Le Gall, President and CEO of Arianespace said, "I would like to thank SES for having the confidence that Arianespace would deliver AMC-21 safely into orbit. AMC-21 is the thirtieth satellite that Arianespace launched for SES, a successful collaboration of more than two dozen years."

Related Links
Ariane
Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com

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