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Flight 161
June 4: Topping off the Ariane 5

Flight 161's Ariane 5 is now complete following installation of the
vehicle's "upper stack," which occurred during activity yesterday in
the Spaceport's final assembly building.

The launcher's upper section - composed of the payload fairing, the
Optus and Defence C1 satellite and the SYLDA 5 multiple payload
deployment system - was mated to the Ariane 5. The action involved a
careful positioning of this upper component over the BSAT-2c
spacecraft, which had been integrated on Ariane 5 earlier this week.

During the mission, the bullet-shaped payload fairing will be
jettisoned at about 3 min. 20 sec. into the flight. Once the Ariane 5
has reached the proper altitude, Optus and Defence C1 is to be
released into its geostationary transfer orbit. The SYLDA 5 will then
be separated, exposing BSAT-2c for its deployment at 35 minutes into
the mission. 

The stack includes the payload fairing and the Optus and Defence C1
satellite, which is installed on its SYLDA 5. The fairing is adorned
with the logos for the mission's dual-satellite payload of BSAT-2c
and Optus and Defence C1. For the Optus and Defence C1 satellite,
Mitsubishi Electronic Corporation of Japan is prime contractor, and
is responsible for all communications systems. Space Systems/Loral
(USA) designed, assembled and integrated the bus and satellite
system.

The overhead view shows the BSAT-2c satellite in position atop the
Ariane 5. It is ready to be covered over by the upper stack, which is
positioned out of view above the launcher. Orbital Sciences
Corporation built the BSAT-2c spacecraft for the Broadcasting
Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) of Japan.

The topping off activity inside Ariane 5's final assembly building is
nearly complete as the upper stack is slowly lowered over the BSAT-2c
satellite. Launch team members monitor the activity from work
platforms positioned at various levels around the Ariane 5. Flight
161 will be Arianespace's third mission in 2003, and continues the
tradition of dual-satellite launches for the Ariane family.

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