Ariane 5 is ready for launch with ASTRA 3B and COMSATBw-2

The Ariane 5 mission with ASTRA 3B and COMSATBw-2 is ready for launch tomorrow evening, May 21. Arianespace’s heavy-lift vehicle rolled out at the Spaceport in French Guiana this morning, and moved to the launch zone for a scheduled liftoff at 7:01 p.m. local time tomorrow. ASTRA 3B is riding in the upper position of the launcher’s payload “stack” and will be deployed at just under 28 minutes into the flight, with COMSATBw-2 located below it in the SYLDA 5 dispenser for a separation at 33 minutes after liftoff.