This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arianespace releases initial information on Flight 157
======================================================

Kourou, December 12, 2002 - During a press conference today in Kourou,
French Guiana, Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall provided initial
information on the failure of Flight 157. He also announced the
establishment of an independent inquiry board.

The flight
Initial data analysis performed last night showed that the countdown, 
engine ignition and initial phase of flight were normal. A first 
anomaly occurred 96 seconds into the mission, involving the cooling 
circuit for the Vulcain 2 engine that powers the main cryogenic stage.

From T + 178 sec to T + 186 sec, the engine speed changed and a 
significant flight control perturbation occurred.

At T + 187 sec, the Ariane 5's payload fairing was jettisoned as 
planned, but the launcher's attitude was not correct. The launcher 
subsequently demonstrated erratic behavior.

In compliance with range safety procedures, the launcher was destroyed 
at approximately 456 sec. into the mission. The Ariane 5 was at an 
altitude of about 69 kilometers and a distance of 800 kilometers off 
the coast of French Guiana.

Data analysis and inquiry board
Jean-Yves Le Gall announced that an independent inquiry board is being 
set up, with members to be named within a few days.

The board will have two main objectives:
1 - Ensure that the Flight 157 anomaly will not affect upcoming
 launches of the baseline version of Ariane 5.
2 - Analyze, understand and correct the Flight 157 failure causes so
 that the 10-ton-payload Ariane 5 version can resume launches with
 high reliability.

Next press conference
The date for the next press conference will be announced shortly 
following the submittal of initial conclusions by the inquiry board.

Arianespace next mission
The launch date for the next scheduled Arianespace mission, Flight 156 
- which will use an Ariane 4 to orbit the NSS-6 satellite - has been 
confirmed for the evening of Tuesday, December 17.

 - End of File -
================

---