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February 11: Ariane 5's dual payload are prepared for launch

The two satellites to be carried by Arianespace's next Ariane 5
mission are undergoing checkout in the new S5 payload preparation
facility at the Guiana Space Center. Liftoff of Flight 160 with the
GALAXY XII and INSAT 3A spacecraft is set for March.

India's INSAT 3A was installed on its payload adapter for a fit-check
inside Arianespace's massive S5 facility. The payload adapter will
serve as the interface between the spacecraft and its Ariane 5. INSAT
3A was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation as part of the
country's active telecommunications and satellite services program,
and it was delivered to French Guiana in January.

GALAXY XII arrived in French Guiana on February 6. This is the first
of three telecommunications platforms being produced for PanAmSat by
Orbital Sciences Corporation. GALAXY XII is based on Orbital's START
family of smaller geostationary satellite platforms.

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