Two For Arianespace’s Money

The second satellite for Arianespace’s upcoming dual-passenger mission has now completed its fueling at Europe’s Spaceport and is ready for integration on the Ariane 5 GS launcher. Optus D2 was “topped off” in the S5B hall, which is one of three primary clean room zones within the state-of-the-art S5 satellite preparation facility at the Spaceport. As with its Intelsat 11 satellite co-passenger on this mission, Optus D2 is based on the Orbital Sciences Corporation’s STAR spacecraft bus. Both are equipped with a liquid bi-propellant transfer orbit system and a monopropellant (hydrazine) on-orbit system.




Optus D2 will be operated by Australian-based Optus, enabling the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services and services bundling. It will have launch mass of 2,350 kg. and an operational life of 15-plus years from an orbital position of 152° E. This is the second satellite in Optus’ D-series fleet, the first orbited by an Ariane 5 in October 2006. Liftoff of the Ariane 5 GS with Optus D2 and Intelsat 11 is set for October 2 in an evening launch window. It will be the fourth of six Ariane 5 flights planned by Arianespace in 2007—France