Arianespace's heavy-lift launcher has moved to its launch zone in French Guiana for the May 27 Ariane 5 flight with DirecTV-15 for DIRECTV and SKY Mexico's SKY Mexico-1.
During activity at the Spaceport, Ariane 5 was transferred atop its mobile launch table from the Final Assembly Building – where payload integration occurred – to the dedicated ELA-3 launch complex.
This step paves the way for tomorrow's mission – designated Flight VA223 in Arianespace's numbering system – which is planned to liftoff in a one-hour, 24-minute launch window that opens at 6:16 p.m. local time in French Guiana.
As Flight VA223's upper passenger, DirecTV-15 – built by Airbus Defence and Space – will be deployed first in the flight sequence at nearly 28 minutes after liftoff.
Approximately 10 minutes later, the Orbital ATK, Inc.-produced SKY Mexico-1 – which is riding in Ariane 5's lower position – is to be separated, completing the flight sequence.
Underscoring the company's sustained operational pace at the Spaceport this year, Flight VA223 will be Arianespace's fourth total launch in 2015 for its complete launcher family, following one previous mission each for Ariane 5, the medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega.
