Tests and prelaunch simulations of new ascent profiles have forced French space officials to delay the second Ariane 5 test flight until October 28th at the earliest, the commercial launch company Arianespace told SpaceCast last week.
French engineers are continuing to flight qualify a new filter for the
cryogenic first stage for possible use on the Ariane 502 mission. The test
program will lead to final qualification of the system for use in flight on
Oct. 17th. Officials will decide after that date if they will fly with the
new system on board the rocket, the second Ariane 5 flight vehicle and the
next launch following the summer 1996 midair explosion of the inaugural
Ariane 5 rocket.
The 1996 launch failure was caused by improper flight software being loaded
into the launcher's autopilot. The changes to the autopilot and guidance
software are among the chief modifications made to the new vehicle to
return it to flight status. The simulations are currently being run at the
rocket builder Aerospatiale's Les Mureaux facility in France. A copy of the
re-launch status report was provided SpaceCast by Arianespace officials in
Washington.
One additional modification, a new upper skirt for the cryogenic stage, was
under verification tests for launch loads at a test range near Casa, in
Madrid Spain as SpaceCast went to press. French officials said the test
results should be available for review this Friday, clearing the way for
the resolution of all last minute vehicle preparations.
Under the current plan, the European Space Agency should be able to start
the final countdown on Oct. 13th, which would lead to launch from Kourou
Spaceport in French Guiana Oct. 28th.
