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Satnews Daily
January 25th, 2017

Dual Passenger Launch Being Processed By Arianespace for Mid-February Launch


The first Ariane 5 liftoff for Arianespace next month from French Guiana finds the two satellites scheduled for this event are now going through checkout at the Spaceport's S5 payload processing facility.

Riding in the upper position of Ariane 5’s dual-payload dispenser system will be SKY Brasil-1, a satellite for operation by DIRECTV Latin America to expand the delivery of high-definition, 3DTV and cinema programming throughout Brazil.


During activity in the Spaceport’s S5 payload processing facility, SKY Brasil-1 undergoes its fit-check with the Ariane 5 adapter (at left), while Telkom-3S is installed on a dolly for its pre-launch preparations (photo, right).

Both photos are courtesy of Arianespace.

Telkom-3S will be deployed as the mission’s second passenger from its location in the launch vehicle’s lower payload position and will be used when on orbit by Indonesian service provider Telkom.

February’s mission with Ariane 5 is designated Flight VA235, signifying the 235th launch of an Ariane-series vehicle from French Guiana. This is one of up to 12 missions targeted by Arianespace in 2017 using their heavy-lift Ariane 5, medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega launcher family.

SKY Brasil-1 was built by Airbus Defence and Space based on the EuroStar 3000 platform and will have a mass of approximately 6,300 kg at launch. The satellite is equipped with 81 transponders operating in Ku- and Ka-bands.

Telkom-3S was produced by Thales Alenia Space using the Spacebus 4000B2 platform, with a liftoff mass of about 3,500 kg.  Outfitted with 24 C-band transponders, eight extended C-band transponders and 10 Ku-band transponders, Telkom-3S will provide coverage over Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

arianespace.com