Ariane 5 launch with Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat New Dawn is set for April 22

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Arianespace has established Friday, April 22 as the new launch date for Ariane 5’s dual-payload mission with the Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat New Dawn satellite payloads from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

This timing was based on the additional checkout and verifications now in progress for the heavy-lift launcher following the final countdown’s interruption on March 30. The interruption occurred when an anomaly was detected during the automated checkout procedure after startup of the Ariane 5’s cryogenic main engine.

The launcher is in the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building where checkout and verification activity is underway for the mission, designated Ariane Flight VA201 – signifying the 201st launch of an Ariane family vehicle.

With the announcement of this flight’s new liftoff date, Arianespace also has provided timing for the two subsequent Ariane 5 launches:

May 19 for Ariane Flight VA202, utilizing an Ariane 5 ECA to launch the ST-2 and GSAT-8 satellite payloads, and
June 29 for Ariane Flight VA203, with an Ariane 5 ECA carrying the ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c passengers.
source arianespace

 

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Arianespace launch a success: Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat New Dawn in orbit



On Friday, April 22, Arianespace orbited two communications satellites: Yahsat Y1A, built by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space for Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat) of the United Arab Emirates, and Intelsat New Dawn, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation for New Dawn Satellite Company Ltd., a joint venture between Intelsat and Convergence Partners.

201st Ariane launch, 43rd success in a row

This latest successful Ariane 5 launch, the second in 2011 and the 201st Ariane launch in all, once again proves the launcher’s operational capabilities. Ariane 5 handles a complete range of missions, from commercial launches into geostationary orbit to spacecraft launches into special orbits. It is the only heavy launcher now on the commercial market capable of simultaneously launching two payloads

This latest mission was the 57th launch of an Ariane 5, and the 43rd successful launch in a row, clearly showing that Arianespace’s launch Service & Solutions continue to set the global standard and guarantee independent access to space for all customers, including national and international space agencies, private operators and governments.

Record satellite launch weight

The launcher lofted a total payload weight of 10,064 kg, including 8,965 for the Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat New Dawn satellites, which were released separately into their targeted orbits. This performance sets a new payload record on this orbit for the Ariane launch vehicle.

Supporting major operators worldwide

Arianespace offers the launch Service & Solutions that best match the needs of major operators worldwide.

Yahsat Y1A is the first satellite launched by Arianespace for the United Arab Emirates.

Arianespace and international operator Intelsat have established a long-standing relationship of mutual trust, reaching back more than 28 years. Intelsat New Dawn is the 52nd satellite launched by Arianespace for this leading operator.

Yahsat Y1A/Intelsat New Dawn mission at a glance

The mission was carried out by an Ariane 5 ECA launcher from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Liftoff was on Friday, April 22 at 6:37 pm local time in Kourou (5:37 pm in Washington, D.C., 21:37 UT, 11:37 pm in Paris, and on Saturday, April 23 at 1:37 am in Abu Dhabi, UAE).

Yahsat Y1A was built by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space. Weighing 5,935 kg at launch, Yahsat Y1A will provide services for both government and commercial customers in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia. Yahsat Y1A will be positioned at 52.5 degrees East, and will offer its customers innovative broadband solutions for Internet, business data and high-definition television (HDTV) services. It has a design life of 15 years.

Intelsat New Dawn weighed 3,000 kg at liftoff, and offers a design life exceeding 15 years. Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, it is fitted with 28 C-band and 24 Ku-band 36 MHz transponders. Positioned at 32.8 degrees East, it will offer a wide range of services for Africa, including Internet, media and data networks.