Arianespace successfully
launched Superbird-7 and
AMC-21 telecommunications
satellites into accurate
geostationary transfer orbits.
This was the 9th mission
performed by Ariane 5s in a
12-month period, during which
the workhorse vehicles carried
16 civilian and military
telecommunications satellites
along with the first Automated
Transfer Vehicle for the
International Space Station -
lofting a combined total payload
weight of 75,430 kg.
Today's flight also marked the
Ariane 5's 27th consecutive
successful launch, and was the
fifth of seven missions planned
by Arianespace in 2008.
Arianespace Chairman & CEO
Jean-Yves Le Gall said the
flight "perfectly illustrates
that high performance,
reliability and the increase in
launch rate can go hand-in-hand.
It also demonstrates the
recognition of our Service &
Solutions offer by the largest
satellite operators and
manufacturers."
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The dual-payload
capability of Ariane 5
was demonstrated once
again by today’s
successful mission. |
The
heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA's
on-time liftoff occurred at 5:44
p.m. local time in French
Guiana, providing a daytime view
of the vehicle's trajectory as
it headed downrange from the
Spaceport.
Superbird-7 rode in the upper
position of Ariane 5's dual
payload "stack," and was
released first during the
half-hour mission - separating
26 minutes into the flight. The
spacecraft was orbited by
Arianespace for Japanese
operator Space Communications
Corporation (SCC) in the
framework of a contract with
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.
Once positioned at its orbital
slot of 144 degrees East,
Superbird-7 will succeed Space
Communications Corporation's
current Superbird-C satellite,
and is designed to provide a
wide range of Ku-band
telecommunications services with
enhanced performance. Superbird-7
is based on the Mitsubishi
Electric Corporation's DS2000
satellite platform, and it had a
liftoff mass of 4,820 kg.
The
Superbird-7 launch continues
Arianespace's long relationship
with Space Communications
Corporation and the Japanese
satellite telecommunications
sector. It is the seventh SCC
spacecraft launched by Ariane
and the 23rd Japanese commercial
satellite entrusted to
Arianespace. Additionally,
Superbird-7 was the second
Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation-built payload
orbited by Ariane 5.
AMC-21's deployment as Ariane
5's second satellite passenger
on today's mission occurred from
the launcher's lower payload
position 30 minutes after
liftoff. This 2,500-kg.
spacecraft was manufactured by
Thales Alenia Space
incorporating the Orbital
Sciences STAR-2 satellite bus,
and it will operate from SES'
new 125 degrees West orbital
position.
The relay capacity provided by
AMC-21 will be marketed by the
U.S.-based SES AMERICOM, which
is to offer the advanced Ku-band
telecommunications links for
mobile applications and TV
broadcasting. Coverage will
include the 50 U.S. states, as
well as Southern Canada, Mexico,
Central America and the
Caribbean.
AMC-21 was the 30th satellite
launched by Arianespace for the
SES group, building on the two
companies' association that
spans nearly 25 years.
Arianespace's first ever mission
- performed in 1984 with an
Ariane 1 launcher - orbited
SPACENET 1, which was operated
by one of the SES group's
predecessor companies.
Arianespace will keep up the
mission pace in 2008, with two
more flights planned - making
this the busiest calendar year
since the Ariane 5's commercial
introduction in 1999.
Chairman & CEO Le Gall announced
that the next Ariane 5 mission
is set for the end of October,
and will orbit another
dual-satellite payload:
Eutelsat's HOT BIRD 9 and NSS-9
for SES NEW SKIES. In addition,
this flight will carry two
auxiliary passengers - a pair of
French Spirale satellites that
are demonstrators for a
space-based military optical
early warning system.
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