Arianespace Launches Two Satellites Aboard Ariane-5 Rocket
An Ariane-5 rocket blasted off from the European space center at Kourou, French Guiana, Friday, placing two telecommunications satellites into geostationary orbit, AFP reports. The rocket first deployed the almost 6-ton Yahsat 1A satellite, followed more than 7 minutes later by the separation of Intelsat New Dawn.
Yahsat 1A will settle into a geosynchronous orbit along the equator at 52.5 degrees east longitude, putting the craft in range of communications customers across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Southwest Asia, according to NASA.
The 3-ton Intelsat New Dawn will link Africa, Western Europe, the Middle East and Pakistan through Ku-band and C-band transponders and antenna and will primarily service wireless broadband, television and other media applications.
Arianespace president Jean-Yves Le Gall acknowledged that the launch of the The 165-foot-tall rocket assembly, was the 43rd successive successful launch for the private aerospace company The original launch date for this flight was March 30 but was delayed due to technical issues.
This was the second mission of this year for Arianespace, following the flawless launch in February of the European Space Agency’s Automated Transfer Vehicle, a robotic resupply craft for the International Space Station.
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Image Caption: Ariane 5 lifts off from the Spaceport carrying a record payload mass
with its Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat New Dawn satellite passengers. (Credit: ESA/Arianespace)
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