The Ariane 4 for Flight 147 has been placed in a standby mode as integration
and checkout activities are completed before the holiday break.
Launch team members completed installation of the Ariane 4’s two large
liquid strap-on boosters this week, and performed verification checks.
The vehicle will remain in the vertical assembly building at the Spaceport’s
ELA-2 complex, and will be rolled out to the launch zone on January 4.
India’s Insat 3C satellite payload is scheduled to be fueled after Christmas
day, and its mating to the Ariane 4 is planned for January 10.
Liftoff of Flight 147 is targeted for January 16, marking the first
Arianespace mission of 2002. The evening launch window opens at 7:52 p.m.
Kourou time.
