5  October  2007

Moog Hardware On Two Satellites, Launch Vehicle

As Moog Propellant Valve Assemblies (PVAs) helped control the October 5 launch of an Ariane 5 rocket from its jungle launch pad, an unprecedented two communications satellites in the ship's payload carried Moog thruster valves, solar array drives and antenna point mechanisms. Orbital Sciences Corporation's Intelsat 11 spacecraft was deployed first, separating nearly 28 minutes after liftoff, followed by a dual-payload launch structure that enabled the release of the Optus D2, 32 minutes into the ascent.

It was the 20th consecutive, successful launch for the Ariane 5 rocket using Moog PVAs and marked the first time that two such spacecraft were paired aboard a single rocket.

Intelsat 11 is designed to relay direct-to-home TV broadcasting and data networking services to Latin America when it enters service later this year. The Optus D2 satellite will be used for television and communications services to Australia and New Zealand.

"Both Intelsat and Optus are very important and valued customers of Orbital and we are committed to extending our history of carrying out successful missions for them," said Senior Vice President Christopher Richmond, head of Orbital's GEO communications satellite programs.

Optus D2 and Intelsat 11 are both built on the Orbital Sciences STARTM satellite platform, and both rely heavily on Moog hardware for mission success. A total of six Moog thruster valves aboard each satellite ensure the proper control of fuel to the thruster engines. Two Moog solar array drive assemblies (SADAs) and their associated drive electronics (SADEs), as well as two antenna pointing mechanisms (APMs) provide solar power to the spacecraft and allow them to communicate to the ground.

Two Moog PVAs control the flow of fuel and oxidizer to the Ariane 5 upper stage Aestus engine.