AMC-18 Launch Campaign Begins

The activity pace is picking up for Arianespace's December heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission as final pre-launch preparations begin with SES AMERICOM's AMC-18 satellite payload.

By Space War Editorial Team · Editorial process

Published November 8, 2006

The activity pace is picking up for Arianespace's December heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission as final pre-launch preparations begin with SES AMERICOM's AMC-18 satellite payload. After arriving at the Spaceport, AMC-18 made the traditional fit check today (November 7) with its Ariane 5 payload adapter, which verifies the correct interface between the satellite and the launcher hardware.

For the December mission, AMC-18 will be launched along with WildBlue's WildBlue-1 satellite, marking the fifth Ariane 5 dual-payload flight in 2006.

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Space War Editorial Team

The Space War Editorial Team produces content across our two editorial pillars: space industry news and Mind & Meaning. We cover launches, missions, satellites, defense, and the technology of getting humans to space, alongside the psychology of ambition, isolation, and meaning under extremes. Articles reflect our team's collective editorial process, source verification, drafting, technical review, and editing, rather than a single writer's work. Space War takes editorial responsibility for content under this byline. For more on how we work, see our editorial policy.