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Flight 159
January 16: Intelsat 907 is readied for launch

Pre-launch preparations are underway on Intelsat 907 spacecraft 
following the telecommunications platform's arrival yesterday in 
French Guiana.

The satellite was positioned atop its adapter today  in the 
traditional fit-check validation, which was performed in the 
Spaceport's S1B facility.  The cone-shaped adapter serves as the 
interface between Intelsat 907 and the Ariane 4 launch vehicle.

Launch of Flight 159 - the final mission for an Ariane 4 - is set for 
the early morning hours of February 12.

Flight 159 will mark Ariane's 23rd flight with an Intelsat satellite 
aboard.  This mission's payload is the latest in the Intelsat IX 
family of advanced telecom satellites.

Previous Intelsat IX platforms lofted by Ariane 4s were Intelsat 901 
in June 2001 (on Flight 141), Intelsat 902 in August 2001 (Flight 
143), Intelsat 904 in February 2002 (Flight 148), Intelsat 905 in June 
2002 (Flight 152) and Intelsat 906 in September 2002 (Flight 154).

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