The two satellite passengers for Arianespace’s initial Ariane 5 flight in 2013 are readied at the Spaceport

Payload preparations for Arianespace’s year-opening Ariane 5 mission are in full swing, with this upcoming flight’s two telecommunications relay platforms – Amazonas 3 and Azerspace/Africasat-1a – undergoing their checkout procedures at the Spaceport.