Oil damage threat on Ariane 5
July 6, 2015
By Chris Forrester
Brazil’s Star One C4 satellite was due to launch on an Arianespace rocket on July 8th. That launch has been scrubbed for at least a week. The problem is the risk of oil contamination onto the satellite from an overhead crane at the Kourou space centre.
The risk is said to be very small, but experts had noted that some oil from the overhead crane’s tracks had dripped onto the outer fairing of the rocket. This would not be a problem in itself but for complete caution the satellite will be re-inspected.
If all is well, then the satellite will be re-prepared for a target launch date of July 15th.