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Astra 1N - Any News ?
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Has anyone heard anything about a new launch date? Arianespace say a delay of about 20 days on their website - That would be today then, but perhaps not
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http://www.arianespace.com/news/mission-status.asp
new date 26/7
Where did you get that date from?
maybe?
Dated 4th July, most likely out of date. The official Ariane site ought to know.
All still seems very quiet from Arianespace despite them saying "approx 20 days" which, from 2nd July, would be tomorrow night. Maybe they are having a few issues so can't commit to a date still??
http://www.forum-conquete-spatiale.fr/t12353p60-ariane-5-eca-va203-astra-1n-bsat-3c-26-juillet-2011
Looks like the possible date could now be the 5th August. It seems that those posting on this site, or some of them, are possibly well connected with Arianespace. Still nothing on the Arianespace website itself yet though.
SES Astra's Official Facebook page saying..
ASTRA 1N, the 2nd try:
Arianespace Flight VA203
Ariane 5 ECA – ASTRA 1N – BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R
Liftoff is scheduled for Friday 5 August 2011
http://www.facebook.com/SESASTRA
Sorry for the copy and paste...
http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2011/7-28-2011-VA203-launch-date.asp
The internet video-link for the launch is:
http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm
Those with Astra 19.2 can watch it on the SES Astra channel:
11023 H 22000 5/6
Further to this and in relation to the forum link Ray posted above, more comments have appeared today discussing briefly the relaunch. With a Google translation one says:
Investigations into the flexible launch vehicle is complete: some flexible measures gave an initial low humidity, but that came in the specs after flushing.
Arianespace has confirmed officially the date of shooting to Friday 05/08.
I agree! Globecast are providing this for them from what appears to be a Paris uplink. Surely a large company like them can pass an internal feed to their UK Multiplexer at Gray's Inn Road for a temporary 28.2E feed?
I've got a temporary dish pointing at 19.2E, it was set up for the original launch but has stayed there until now pending the relaunch date! Looking forward to a successful mission this coming Friday night.
http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/827.asp
SES Astra
Due to poor weather conditions (strong wind), the launch of ASTRA 1N is postponed for 24 hours. Christopher.
Another launch date will be decided depending on the evolution of the weather conditions in Kourou.
As Analoguesat has rightly mentioned over in the same thread on the Technical forum, it's more likely to do with high altitude winds (Jetstream) than low level precipitation.
Have a look at this:
http://www.wunderground.com/global/Region/SA/2xJetStream.html?MR=1
It showed light blue over French Guyana yesterday, lighter today, at least at 0600 it was!!
Fingers crossed for a lift-off this eve, we'll have to wait and see.
Der Bild's man-on-the-spot Sven Stein tweeted (20 minutes ago) that the rocket has been refuelled and the count-down is progressing although a final launch decision will only be made at 23:33 CET!
You can follow him at @sven_stein_bild.
Press Release
Arianespace Flight VA203 > ASTRA 1N & BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R: Launch slated on the night of August 6, 2011
Kourou, August 6, 2011
The weather conditions being now favourable over the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, Arianespace has decided to restart the launch chronology of Arianespace Flight 203.
Flight 203 will place into geostationary transfer orbit the ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R telecommunications satellites.
Liftoff of the Ariane 5 ECA launcher is now scheduled for:
Saturday 06 August at 06:53 p.m., local time in Kourou, French Guiana,
Saturday 06 August at 22:53 UK BST,
Saturday 06 August at 21:53 UTC,
Chris.