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Ariane-5 with dual communication satellite payload.
An Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket carrying a dual payload of Intelsat 17 and HYLAS 1 spacecraft has been cleared to launch on November 26th. The launch is scheduled to launch from Kourou, French Guiana with a launch window between 18:39 and 21:54 GMT (3:39pm and 6:54pm local).
The two spacecraft are communications satellites.
Positioned at 66 degrees East, INTELSAT 17 will deliver a wide range of communication services for Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Asia. Built by Space Systems/Loral of the United States, this powerful satellite will weigh 5,540 kg at launch. It will also enable Intelsat to expand its successful Asian video distrubution neighborhood. INTELSAT 17 will replace INTELSAT 702.
HYLAS 1 was built by an industrial consortium formed by EADS Astrium and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), using a I-2K platform. Fitted with Ka-band and Ku-band transponders, the satellite will be positioned at 33.5 degrees West, and will be the first European satellite to offer high-speed broadband services across all of Europe. HYLAS 1 will weigh 2,570 kg at launch, and has a design life exceeding 15 years.
The launch will be broadcast live at http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm
The Arianespace press release follows:
See the official Arianespace launch kit for further information on this mission.
November 24, 2010 – Ariane Flight 198
The fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2010 was given the go-ahead today for its November 26 liftoff with Arianespace’s dual payload of the Intelsat 17 and HYLAS 1 satellites.
This authorization followed the completion of today’s launch readiness review, which validates to “go” status of the heavy-lift Ariane 5, its two spacecraft passengers, the launch infrastructure at the Spaceport in French Guiana, and the network of down-range tracking stations.
With the successful review, Ariane 5 is cleared for tomorrow’s rollout from the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building to the ELA-3 launch zone, where it will be readied for liftoff on Friday during an early launch window that opens at 3:39 p.m. local time in French Guiana and continues to 6:54 p.m.
For this 198th mission of an Ariane family launcher – and the 54th flight for Ariane 5 – the launch vehicle will deliver an estimated 8,870 kg. total payload, of which approximately 8,070 kg. is the combined mass of Intelsat 17 and HYLAS 1, with the remaining weight represented by the SYLDA dispenser system and integration hardware.
During the 49 min. flight, Intelsat 17 will be released first, followed by HYLAS 1.
Intelsat 17 will provide telecommunications coverage over Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India for Intelsat – the leading provider of fixed satellite services worldwide. HYLAS 1 is the first broadband services platform for Avanti Communications, and will offer two-way data services across Europe.
