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Flight 160
April 5: The go-ahead is given for Ariane 5's April 8 liftoff with a
dual satellite payload

Arianespace Flight 160 was cleared for liftoff following the launch
readiness review held at the Spaceport today.

This thorough review included a readiness validation of the Ariane 5
and its dual satellite payload, a verification of the Spaceport's
launch infrastructure and a check of the down-range tracking network
that will follow the mission.

With today's green light, all is ready for the Ariane 5's rollout
from the final assembly building to the launch zone on Monday, April
7. This will be followed by the final countdown on April 8, which
includes of the launcher's cryogenic main stage.

Liftoff of the Ariane 5 with its dual satellite payload of INSAT 3A
and GALAXY XII is set for the evening of April 8 during a launch
window that begins at 7:49 p.m. and closes at 8:30 p.m. (local time
in Kourou, French Guiana).

The 2,950-kg. INSAT 3A was designed and built by the Indian Space
Research Organisation in Bangalore, India. Equipped with a mixed
payload of 6 Ku-band and 18 C-band transponders, plus metrologiocal
payload and search & rescue payloads, INSAT 3A will be located at an
orbital position of 93.5 deg. East over the Bengal Gulf for coverage
of India. 

GALAXY XII has a liftoff mass of 1,760 kg. and was produced in
Dulles, Virginia by Orbital Sciences Corporation for PanAmSat. It
carries 24 C-band transponders and will be positioned at 74 deg. West
to provide coverage over the continental United States, Alaska and
Hawaii.

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