Arianespace/Starsem Flight ST12

December 12:  Fueling of the AMOS 2 satellite is complete

AMOS 2 is fueled in the Starsem    hazardous processing facility at    Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Fueling of Amos 2 has been completed in the Baikonur Cosmodrome hazardous processing facility (HPF), clearing another key milestone before the Israeli telecommunications satellite is mated to its Starsem Soyuz/Fregat launcher.

The HPF is part of the state-of-the art facilities developed by Starsem at Baikonur Cosmodrome for use by its commercial customers. Following the fueling procedure, AMOS 2 was installed on a cone-shape adapter that will serve as the interface between the satellite and its Soyuz/Fregat launch vehicle.

In parallel with this satellite activity, the Soyuz launcher and Fregat upper stage are proceeding through their final preparations as the mission nears its late December liftoff from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

AMOS 2 originally was scheduled for launch on Ariane 5, but it was transferred to the Soyuz/Fregat to meet requirements of the customer.

The fueling process for AMOS 2 is    monitored from the control room of the    hazardous processing facility.

This change was the result of a joint decision by Israel Aircraft Industries, Arianespace and Starsem, which was made in agreement with Spacecom Ltd. - the Israeli company that will operate AMOS 2. The ability to change a payload from Ariane 5 to Soyuz/Fregat results from the launcher family policy developed by Starsem and its Arianespace affiliate to best respond to the needs of their clients.

AMOS 2 will be co-located at 4 deg. West with the AMOS 1 spacecraft (which was launched by Arianespace in 1996).

Designed and built by the MBT Space Division of Israel Aircraft Industries, AMOS 2 has 36 high-power Ku-band channels. It will provide telecommunications operator Spacecom Ltd. with additional relay capacity over Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. East Coast.

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To read the December 28th update, "Success for Flight ST12 - The AMOS 2 satellite is in orbit!", click here.

To read the December 24th update, "The Soyuz/Fregat is in the launch zone!", click here.

To read the December 15th update, "The Fregat upper stage is fueled and ready for integration with AMOS", click here.

To read the November 26th update, "Pre-launch checkout underway for the AMOS 2 satellite ", click here.

To read the November 18th update, "Preparations have begun for the liftoff of AMOS 2 ", click here.

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