N° 41–2001: Countdown continues for ESA's Artemis satellite
6 July 2001
Follow the launch from various ESA establishments and on the ESA website
Only a few days remain before an Ariane 5 launches Artemis, ESA's advanced telecommunication satellite, into orbit. Final preparations at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, are progressing smoothly for a launch on 12 July, with a 93-minute launch window starting at 18 :58 Kourou time (23 :58 CEST).
Artemis, built under the prime contractorship of Alenia Spazio, Italy, will test and operate new telecommunication technologies in satellite navigation, mobile communication services and inter-satellite data relay. The spacecraft is designed for voice and data communications between mobile terminals (mainly for cars, trucks and trains of boats), broadcasting accurate navigation information as an element of Europe's EGNOS and sending high-speed data communications directly between satellites.
Media representatives in Europe can follow the launch from ESA/ESRIN in Frascati (Italy), acting as the main European press centre, ESA/ESTEC in Noordwijk (the Netherlands), ESA/ESOC in Darmstadt (Germany), ESA/VILSPA in Villafranca, Madrid (Spain), and Arianespace in Evry (France). At each site the live transmission of the launch can be followed and ESA specialists will be available for interviews.
Doors open at 23 :00 and the event will end around 01 :00 (live videotransmission from 23 :38 to 00 :50). Media representatives wishing to attend are requested to complete the attached reply form and fax it back to the Communication Office at the ESA establishment of their choice.
For broadcasters the transmission of video material is planned as follows :
· Wednesday 11 July, 11:00 GMT/13:00 CEST: Artemis launch Video News Release with 15 minutes of pre-launch background footage
· Thursday 12 July, 14:00 GMT (TBC): Images of final Artemis launch preparations in Kourou, and roll-out of Ariane 5 to launch pad
· Friday 13 July, 04:30 GMT and 06:00 GMT : Artemis launch highlights with images from Kourou and the Artemis control centre in Fucino, Italy.
All transmissions will be on Eutelsat W1, transponder B5, horizontal, digital channel 1 (MPEG-2, 4:2:0), 11.144 MHz, 5.632 MS/sec, FEC ¾. Before downlinking, check http://television.esa.int for any last-minute changes. The launch highlights will be replayed, on 13 July, by Europe by Satellite. For further details, see : http://europa.eu.int/comm/ebs/index.html
You can also follow the progress of the launch campaign, and then watch the launch live at :
www.esa.int/artemislaunch
The launch video streaming will start at 23 :30. Video highlights will be available on request for a few days afterwards.
Germany:
Location: ESA/ ESOC
Address: Robert-Bosch Strasse 5, Darmstadt, Germany
Opening hours: 23 :00 to 01 :00
Contact point: Jocelyne Landeau-Constantin
Tel. + 49 6151 90 2696/ 2459
Fax. + 49 6151 90 2961
The Netherlands
Location: Space Expo
Address: Keplerlaan 3, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Opening hours: 23 :00 to 01 :00
Contact point: Heidi Graf
Tel. : + 31 71 565 3006
Fax.: + 31 71 565 5728
Info line : +31 71 565 8016
During launch evening : +31 71 6364 448
Italy
Location: ESA/ESRIN
Address: Via G. Galilei, Frascati (Rome), Italy
Opening hours: 21 :00 to 01 :00
Contact point: Franca Morgia
Tel. + 39 06 9418 0951
Fax. +39 06 9418 0952
Spain: Location : ESA/VILSPA Satellite Station
Address: Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid
Opening hours: 23 :00 to 01 :00
Contact point: Monica Oerke
Tel + 34 91 813 1327
Fax. +34 91 813 1219
France :
Location : Arianespace
Address : Boulevard de l'Europe, 91006 Evry
Opening hours : 23 :00-01 :00
Contact point : Odile Laborie
Tel : +33.(0)1.60.87.60.13
Fax : +33.(0)1.60.87.63.04
ARTEMIS LAUNCH ACCREDITATION FORM- Launch on 12 July 2001
First name: _________________ Surname : ___________________
Media : _________________________________________________
Address : _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Tel : ___________________ Fax : _______________________
Mobile : ___________________ e-mail : ____________________
I will be attending the Artemis launch event on 12 July at the following site:
[ ] Germany:
Location: ESA/ ESOC
Address: Robert-Bosch Strasse 5, Darmstadt, Germany
Opening hours:
Contact point: Jocelyne Landeau-Constantin
Tel. + 49 6151 90 2696/ 2459
Fax. + 49 6151 90 2961
[ ]The Netherlands
Location: Space Expo
Address: Keplerlaan 3, Noordwijk, Holland
Opening hours: 23 :00-01 to 01 :00
Contact point: Heidi Graf
Tel. : + 31 71 565 3006
Fax. + 31 71 565 5728
Info line : +31 71 565 8016
During launch evening : +31 71 6364 448
[ ] Italy
Location: ESA/ESRIN
Address: Via G. Galilei, Frascati (Rome), Italy
Opening hours: 21 :00 to 01 :00
Contact point: Franca Morgia
Tel. + 39 06 9418 0951
Fax. +39 06 9418 0952
[ ] Spain:
Location ESA/VILSPA Satellite Station
Address: Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid
Opening hours: 23 :00-01 :00
Contact point: Monica Oerke
Tel. + 34 91 813 1211
Fax. +34 91 813 1212
[ ]France :
Location : Arianespace
Address : Boulevard de l'Europe, 91006 Evry
Opening hours : 23 :00 to 01 :00
Contact point : Odile Laborie
Tel : +33.(0)1.60.87.6013
Fax : +33.(0)1.60.87.6304
Please complete the form and fax it back to the site of your choice.
For further information:
Media Relations Office
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.71.55
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.76.90