European heavy-lift launcher Ariane 5 lifted off two communication satellites on Saturday.
The Ariane 5, carrying Astra 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R, was launched at 2252 GMT on Saturday from Kourou launch centre in French Guiana, according to live broadcast of the launching process.
This was the fourth mission of Ariane 5 in 2011 and its 203th flight that sent off the two satellites Saturday night to their respective geostationary transfer orbits.
Astra 1N, to be separated first, is built by EADS Astrium in Toulouse, France, for the Luxembourg-based operator SES Astra. With a designed lifespan of 15 years, it has an estimated liftoff mass of 5,350 kg and is fitted with 52 active Ku-band transponders.
It is initially to deliver interim capacity from an orbital position of 28.2 degree East, and will subsequently move to SES Astra's prime location at 19.2 degree East for primary and backup services.
BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems in Newtown, Pennsylvania, for Japanese operators B-SAT Corporation and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. This satellite weighs approximately 2,910 kg at launch time. It is to be positioned at 110 degree East longitude in geostationary orbit with a lifetime exceeding 16 years.
The precision of Ariane 5 was demonstrated once again tonight, highlighting the on-target repeatability of this vehicle. The estimated orbital parameters at its cryogenic upper stage’s injection were:- Perigee: 249.7 km. for a target of 249.7 km.
- Apogee: 35,957 km. for a target of 35,952 km.- Inclination: 2.01 deg. for a target of 2.00 deg.
ASTRA 1N was deployed first during the mission, and marked the 11th satellite launched for SES ASTRA by Arianespace – and the 34th entrusted to the company by the SES group.
Fitted with 52 active Ku-band transponders, ASTRA 1N was built by EADS Astrium based on the Eurostar E3000 platform, and had an estimated liftoff mass of 5,350 kg. It initially is to deliver interim capacity from an orbital position of 28.2 deg. East, and subsequently will move to SES ASTRA’s prime location at 19.2 deg. East for primary and backup services during a designed operational lifetime of 15 years.
 Tonight’s mission marked the 59th liftoff of Ariane 5 from the Spaceport’s ELA 3 launch complex in French Guiana, and was the workhorse vehicle’s fourth flight in 2011. |
The BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R spacecraft – which was released second in tonight’s flight sequence – was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems as part of a turnkey contract for Japanese operators B-SAT Corporation and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. Produced using an A2100 A platform and weighing approximately 2,910 kg. at launch, this was the 41st Lockheed Martin satellite provided to Arianespace for launch.
BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R is equipped with 24 active Ku-band transponders, and will be positioned at 110 deg. East longitude, with its primary mission to provide direct TV broadcast links for all of Japan.
This Ariane 5 flight has been postponed twice, firstly due to some technical problem in early July and then delayed by bad weather.
Arianespace plans to achieve six Ariane 5 missions through this year.
