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G0HKT > SPACE 02.10.97 01:17l 55 Lines 2247 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : GB7SIG36817
Read: GUEST DK3EL
Subj: Ariane 501 Postponed
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Sent: 970924/1855 @:GB7SIG.#45.GBR.EU #:36817
September 24, 1997
Special Report
===============================
THE ORBITAL REPORT NEWS ALERT
===============================
Space Executive's News Digest
=== LIVE FROM KOUROU ===
* The second ARIANE 5 qualification flight (L502 vehicle/V101 flight)
has been postponed to October 15 at the earliest. The launch
campaign will be put on hold on September 26 and resume 7 days before
launch with the propellant filling of the Storable Propellant upper
Stage (EPS). The launcher, already fully integrated here in Kourou,
is ready for the final phase of the launch campaign.
This 2-week delay is required to complete the qualification of the
vehicle's FLIGHT SOFTWARE. Moreover simulations have shown that
oscillations might appear in the VULCAIN engine's Thrust Vector Control
(TVC) system and increase the consumption of hydraulic fluid by the
actuators.
There is little concern regarding actual early depletion of the
hydraulic fluid reserve during flight but in some scenarios, these
oscillations could cause the consumption to exceed the large margins
specifically set for this qualification flight. These margins should
be eased on future commercial missions.
CNES, the French space agency, and the EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY are
currently reviewing the computational model used for the simulation.
If the risk of oscillations is assessed, a filter might be introduced
in the electronics of the VULCAIN's TVC system in order to suppress
unwanted oscillations.
This modification would require additional qualification tests and
could result in an additional one to two-week delay.
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