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Flight 160
Launch day update: Final countdown underway

Arianespace's Flight 160 is nearing its liftoff hour this evening as
the final countdown continues on schedule at the Spaceport in French
Guiana. 

Activities today include a final check of the Ariane 5's electrical
systems and fueling of its cryogenic main stage with liquid
oxygen/liquid hydrogen propellant.

The weather continued to be excellent over the launch zone, and is
expected to remain "green" for tonight's launch.

Liftoff of Flight 160 is set for this evening in a launch window that
begins at 7:49 p.m. and closes at 8:30 p.m. (local time in Kourou,
French Guiana). 

Flight 160's dual satellite payload consists of the 2,950-kg. INSAT
3A and GALAXY XII, which has a liftoff mass of 1,760 kg.

INSAT 3A was designed and built by the Indian Space Research
Organisation in Bangalore, India. Its mixed payload has 6 Ku-band and
18 C-band telecommunications relay transponders, a metrological
system, along with search and rescue locating/positioning equipment.
INSAT 3A will be located at an orbital position of 93.5 deg. East
over the Bengal Gulf for coverage of India.

The GALAXY XII satellite on Flight 160 was produced in Dulles,
Virginia (U.S.A.) by Orbital Sciences Corporation for PanAmSat. It
carries 24 C-band transponders and will provide coverage over the
continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii from its orbital
location at 74 deg. West.

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