THE REPORT of the official enquiry into the loss of the European Space Agency's (ESA) first Ariane 5 booster after launch from Kourou, French Guiana, on 4 June, is due to be released on 15 July. The second Ariane 5 launch is still scheduled for October.
The accident report is expected to cite malfunctions in two modified Ariane 4-class laser-gyro inertial-guidance system (IGS)- alignment software packages.
The Sextant Avionique IGS fitted to the Ariane 5 may not have been evaluated fully under a simulated, new, Ariane 5 launch environment, say industry sources (Flight International, 26 June-2 July). European commercial-launch firm Arianespace expects to take delivery of the third Ariane 5 for commercial operations, possibly starting in February 1997, should flight 502 be successful.
The ESA-funded Ariane 502, designated flight V93, will carry an Amsat satellite as a test payload and, possibly, the Atmospheric Re-entry Demonstrator capsule.
The company says that, following the order of an extra 25 Ariane 4 boosters in 1995/6 - in addition to the 50 ordered in 1988 - it will be able to fulfil launch commitments, even if the Ariane 5 programme is delayed.
A total of 16 Ariane 4s, remains to be flown and 12 Ariane 5s are on order for Arianespace.
ESA is considering a proposal to fly a new science mission in 2000, called the Phoenix, to replace the four $500 million Cluster satellites lost on the Ariane 501. The mission would use a refurbished Cluster structural model, with three new Cluster craft.
Source: Flight International
