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Aviation History
2001
2001 - 0896.PDF
ZPA'J£¥UGm Eurobird and B-SAT2a in Ariane 5 success ARIANESPACE successfully launched flight V140/Ariane 5 from Kourou on 8 March, carrying Eutelsat's Eurobird and the Japanese Broadcasting Satellite System's B-SAT 2a into an 860km by 36,000km (535 mile by 22,400 mile) geostationary transfer orbit. Eurobird is an Alcatel Espace- built spacecraft, based on die Space- bus 3000 B2, weighing 3,050kg (6,7001b), operating at 6kW and fitted with 24 Ku-band transpon ders. The satellite will be stationed at 2 8.5° in geostationary orbit. The direct TV broadcast satel lite BSAT-2a was built by Orbital Sciences (OSC). Weighing 1,317kg, it will be stationed at 110°E and will provide a service using four Ku-band transponders. The launch - the sixth successful Ariane 5 commercial firing - was the third Arianespace mission diis year and will be followed by an unusual hiatus until June when flight VI41, an Ariane 44L launch, will carry Intelsat 901 and BSAT 2b. A further three Ariane 4 and four Ariane 5 vehicles are set to be launched this year. Meanwhile, Arianespace has received a contract from Eutelsat to launch the eBird communica tions satellite being built by Boeing. The satellite - the first Eutelsat craft to be built by a non- European contractor - will be launched on an Ariane 5 in 2002 .• Boeing claims to be on track for first Delta IV EELV launch TIM FURNISS/LONDON BOEING IS reiterating that it is "on track" to launch the first Delta IV in May 2 002. The launcher will carry a Defense Space Commun ications System (DSCS) satel lite for the US Air Force under the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) pro gramme. The launch confir mation follows reports that a Lockheed Martin Atlas V has been lined up for the mission following problems with die Boeing Rocketdyne RS-68 engine which powers die Delta IV The confusion has arisen as Boeing and Lockheed will back each other up for the provision of some launches, depending on the payload. The EELV programme allows either contractor to give USAF assured access to space. "In December 2000 as a standard pre caution, the service asked Lockheed Martin to begin initial integration activities to support DSCS as needed," Boeing says. Lockheed Martin has already begun integration of the first Adas V EELV as a back-up in case the USAF opts to take the mission Boeing has resolved RS-68 problems away from Boeing. "We have not been notified by the US Air Force of any intention to reassign the launch," says Boeing. The Delta IV EELV mission will be preceded in die first quarter of 2002 by a demonstration mission, carrying a commercial communica tions satellite or a dummy payload. Boeing says that the Delta IV maiden flight schedule is paced by the development of the RS-68 cryogenic liquid oxygen-liquid hydrogen first stage engine. The company has recently completed four successful tests of the engine totalling 800s over seven days, which validated design fixes after earlier problems widi the engine. Problems occurred during an engine static firing test at the Stennis Space Centre, Mis sissippi, in November which caused damage to turbine blades due to a "component failure" possibly as a result of "high cycle fatigue". The problems centred on die single blade and disc assemblies, or bliscs, in the turbopumps. Boe ing says the problem was elim inated by adjusting "the natural frequency of the blisc to oper ate die engine at die desired levels". The RS-68 is the first cryogenic engine to be built in the USA as a first stage powerplant since the Space Shuttle Main Engine. "The tests are evidence diat we overcame the issues seen to date and will be ready to support a commercial launch in early 2002," says Boeing. Boeing was awarded a $ 1.3 8 bil lion contract to build 19 Delta IV EELVs for the USAF, an order increased to 21 last year, at the expense of die Adas V, which lost two launches, bringing to seven those for the USAF under1 its original $650 million contract.' Of Elbit considers Rafael's micros ELBIT SYSTEMS is consider ing partnering Rafael in the latter's micro satellites programme and is expected to make a decision soon on its investment. Rafael, which declines to com ment on die programme, has pro posed to the Israeli air force a system based on micro satellites to perform intelligence gathering missions. The micro satellites would be launched into orbit by a more powerful version of Rafael's Black Sparrow air launched target missile, which would be modified to carry 50-80kg(110-1801b)satel- lites. The Black Sparrow was developed by Rafael for use in Israel's Arrow anti-tactical ballistic missile programme and is based on the company's Popeye AGM-142 air-surface TV guided missile. The target missile can be carried by Boeing F-15-sized aircraft and launched from 42,000ft (12,800m). After a 6s free fall the motor is ignited and burns for 25s. The Israeli air force and die country's ministry of defence research and development direc torate are supporting the plan and will allocate budgets for it, which is causing concern for Israel Aircraft Industries, the coun try's only satellite manufacturer and launcher. -I Mir agency signs $200 million insurance policy ROSAVIACOSMOS has signed a $200 million third party insurance policy with Russian insurance companies Megaruss, Avikos and die Industrial Insurance Company to cover the de-orbiting of the Mir space station, planned for around 21 March. The Russian space and aviation agency paid a premium of up to $ 1.4 million. London-based insur ance companies are providing rein surance protection. Mir's systems, including die mainframe computer, have been switched on to provide data on its operational condition as part of the preparations for its controlled re-entry once the perigee of the station's orbit reaches 220km (140 miles). • Russia's 2001 space budget is $48 million, less than half what is required, according to Rosav- iacosmos. India spends twice as much on its space programme, the agencysays. • 32 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 20 - 26 March 2001
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