Ariane prepares for JCSAT-10/Syracuse 3B launch

Arianespace has transferred another Ariane 5 ECA in the Final Assembly Building at Europe's Spaceport as it prepares for its third mission this year.

The vehicle was transferred on July 20 from the Launcher Integration building, where its basic assembly was performed. It is now ready for the installation of its dual satellite payload.
 
The upcoming mission will carry the 4,000kg JCSAT-10 communications satellite for Japan's JSAT Corp., along with the French Syracuse 3B military relay platform, which will have a mass at liftoff of approximately 3,700kg.
 
The Ariane 5 ECA is scheduled for launch on August 11. The mission follows the Ariane 5 ECA launch last May 27, which carried the Satmex 6 and Thaicom 5 satellites with a record payload weight of 8,200kg to geostationary transfer orbit.
 
Prior to that, on March 11, an Ariane 5 ECA launched the HOT BIRD 7A and SPAINSAT satellites into orbit.