 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||
|
|
 Previous: Hams on 11 Meters an Enforcement Issue |  Next: Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Seventh Annual Collegiate Championship |
NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 31, 2000--Attaining initial Earth orbit could turn out to be the easy part of getting the Phase 3D satellite into its desired orbital position high above the planet. Having pronounced the next-generation Amateur Radio satellite flight-ready, the Phase 3D team now is counting the days until the satellite rockets into space, as it's tentatively scheduled to do on November 14 from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
A cutaway drawing from Arianespace, showing placement of Flight 135's primary payload, PAS 1R, and the three auxiliary payloads--AMSAT Phase 3D, and the STRV 1C and 1D microsats (on either side, mounted on the ASAP 5 platform. [Arianespace] (larger image) |
While the launch date is dependent on the status of the primary commercial payload, launch contractor Arianespace is moving forward with its preparations for the Flight 135 mission. The Ariane 5 will attempt to launch the huge PanAmSat 1R communications satellite and two British Space Technology Research Vehicle minisats, STRV 1C and STRV 1D. Flight 135 will be the seventh for the Ariane 5 vehicle.
Phase 3D, at more than 1400 pounds and nearly 20 feet across, will be the largest Amateur Radio payload ever put into space.
Once in what's called a "geostationary transfer orbit," the Ariane 5 will deploy its payloads sequentially during a sort of aerial ballet that involves a dozen or so critical positioning maneuvers for success. At the very top of the rocket, the PanAmSat 1R will be the first satellite ejected into space--after the protective cap is jettisoned and the launcher has been precisely aimed.
 |  |
|
The Flight 135 Ariane 5 launch vehicle arrives at the Final Assembly Building, where the payloads will be mated to the launcher. [Wilfried Gladisch/AMSAT] | Phase 3D team workers look on as the satellite within the support bearing structure--or SBS--is lowered onto the Ariane Structure for Auxiliary Payloads platform. To secure the two structures required installing 244 bolts. [Wilfried Gladisch/AMSAT] |
The launcher then must be accurately repositioned to deploy the STRV packages, which are fitted to the Ariane Structure for Auxiliary Payloads platform along with Phase 3D. The ASAP platform--being used for the first time on this flight--is designed to carry mini or microsats as secondary Ariane 5 payloads.
Finally, it will be Phase 3D's turn. The launcher will align itself for a final time, and, once in the exact position, will eject the amateur satellite package. Beyond that point, Phase 3D still must successfully negotiate several more steps on its way to its much-higher final elliptical orbit. That process, which involves firings of the onboard 400-Newton motor and arcjet (ATOS) engine eventually will result in an orbit that's some 2500 miles from Earth at the nearest point and almost 30,000 miles away at the farthest and at a 63º inclination. Establishing the final orbit could take up to one year.
The "Call Sign to Fly" plaque--a listing of amateurs and organizations that contributed to the AMSAT-UK Phase 3D satellite fund during the 1995 to 1997 period--was installed on a Phase 3D side panel. The inscription reflects the earlier hope that Phase 3D would launch aboard the second Ariane 5 flight in 1997. [Wilfried Gladisch/AMSAT] (larger image) |
Earlier this month, AMSAT-DL Executive Vice President Peter Gülzow, DB2OS--who's heading up the Phase 3D launch campaign--pronounced Phase 3D "ready to fly" after it passed all of its pre-launch inspections, testing, and preparation. Gülzow has been filling in for Phase 3D Project Leader Karl Meizer, DJ4ZC.
Phase 3D has been moved into the final assembly building at the European Spaceport, where it will remain "on hold" until the launch date. The Phase 3D launch team continues to be able to monitor the satellite's status through an "umbilical cord" to the payload. All payloads still must be mated to the Ariane 5 launch vehicle.
For more information, visit AMSAT-NA and the ARRLWeb Phase 3D page.
| Previous: Hams on 11 Meters an Enforcement Issue | Next: Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Seventh Annual Collegiate Championship |
