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06.46 Europe/London, September 22, 2011 By Robert Briel Telecommunications
satellites for two key
Arianespace customers
were launched last night on
the company’s fifth Ariane 5
flight of 2011. Delivering a total payload lift
performance of
approximately 8,975 kg.,
the mission lofted
Arabsat-5C for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat)
and SES-2, which will be utilised by Europe’s SES. Arabsat-5C was deployed first, separating from
Ariane 5 at 27 minutes after liftoff, followed eight
minutes later by SES-2. “Arabsat decided several years ago to entrust us
with the launch of all its satellites, and the
successful orbiting of this eighth satellite
demonstrates that my friend, Khalid Balkheyour,
Arabsat’s president and CEO, was right to place his
confidence in us,” said Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall. “Because of his wise choice,
Arabsat has become one of the world’s leading
operators – and I congratulate it for this superb
success.” Once positioned at Arabsat’s 20 degrees East orbital
location, Arabsat-5C will deliver capacity in both the
C- and Ka-bands for a range of communications
services. The spacecraft was manufactured in a joint
effort by Europe’s EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia
Space. The SES-2 passenger for the mission was the 35th
SES satellite launched by an Ariane vehicle, and is
equipped with 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band
transponders. It will replace SES’ AMC-3 spacecraft
at 87 degrees West, providing coverage for North
America and the Caribbean. Also integrated aboard SES-2 is the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload
(CHIRP) sensor for the U.S. Air Force – which
integrates a wide-field of view sensor for testing by
the military service. “We are particularly proud of the loyalty that SES
has demonstrated since more than 20 years, and I
wish to particularly thank Tip Osterthaler, the
president and CEO of SES WORLD SKIES U.S.
Government Solutions,” Le Gall said. “I also want to
thank our friends at the U.S. Air Force, because together, we have opened a new chapter for the
space industry tonight in launching CHIRP on SES-2
as the initial military payload on a civilian satellite.
Arianespace is honoured to once again be part of a
world’s first!” The next Ariane 5 flight is planned for early 2012,
performing its third mission to loft a European
Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for servicing of
the International Space Station.
Http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2011/09/22/arabsat-5c-and-ses-2-are-orbited/
satellites for two key
Arianespace customers
were launched last night on
the company’s fifth Ariane 5
flight of 2011. Delivering a total payload lift
performance of
approximately 8,975 kg.,
the mission lofted
Arabsat-5C for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat)
and SES-2, which will be utilised by Europe’s SES. Arabsat-5C was deployed first, separating from
Ariane 5 at 27 minutes after liftoff, followed eight
minutes later by SES-2. “Arabsat decided several years ago to entrust us
with the launch of all its satellites, and the
successful orbiting of this eighth satellite
demonstrates that my friend, Khalid Balkheyour,
Arabsat’s president and CEO, was right to place his
confidence in us,” said Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall. “Because of his wise choice,
Arabsat has become one of the world’s leading
operators – and I congratulate it for this superb
success.” Once positioned at Arabsat’s 20 degrees East orbital
location, Arabsat-5C will deliver capacity in both the
C- and Ka-bands for a range of communications
services. The spacecraft was manufactured in a joint
effort by Europe’s EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia
Space. The SES-2 passenger for the mission was the 35th
SES satellite launched by an Ariane vehicle, and is
equipped with 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band
transponders. It will replace SES’ AMC-3 spacecraft
at 87 degrees West, providing coverage for North
America and the Caribbean. Also integrated aboard SES-2 is the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload
(CHIRP) sensor for the U.S. Air Force – which
integrates a wide-field of view sensor for testing by
the military service. “We are particularly proud of the loyalty that SES
has demonstrated since more than 20 years, and I
wish to particularly thank Tip Osterthaler, the
president and CEO of SES WORLD SKIES U.S.
Government Solutions,” Le Gall said. “I also want to
thank our friends at the U.S. Air Force, because together, we have opened a new chapter for the
space industry tonight in launching CHIRP on SES-2
as the initial military payload on a civilian satellite.
Arianespace is honoured to once again be part of a
world’s first!” The next Ariane 5 flight is planned for early 2012,
performing its third mission to loft a European
Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for servicing of
the International Space Station.
Http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2011/09/22/arabsat-5c-and-ses-2-are-orbited/
