The Ariane 5 GS launcher for Arianespace‘s fourth flight of 2007 completed its build-up last Thursday, the 20th of September, with the installation of Intelsat 11 as its upper payload. During activity inside the Final Assembly Building at Europe’s Spaceport, the upper payload "stack" was placed atop its Ariane 5. This positioned the Intelsat 11 satellite, as well as its protective payload fairing and the Sylda 5 dispenser system, over the Optus D2 spacecraft, which was installed earlier on Ariane 5’s central core stage.
The flight plan for Arianespace’s October 2 launch calls for the dual satellite payload to be deployed in a multi-step process during the 32-minute mission. Separation of Ariane 5’s payload fairing will occur approximately 3 minutes after liftoff, followed 24 minutes later by Intelsat 11’s deployment. The canister-shaped Sylda 5 dispenser will then be released, exposing Optus D2 for its release approximately 32 minutes into the mission.
This 178th flight of an Ariane launcher will carry a total payload weight of approximately 5,850 kg. This includes 4,830 kg. for the two satellites plus the associated satellite installation hardware and the SYLDA 5 deployment system. Intelsat 11 is to host Latin America’s premiere video programmers and the region’s largest DTH (direct-to-home) platform. The hybrid payload being carried aloft is composed of 16 C-band and 18 Ku-band transponders for Intelsat. Optus D2 is to be operated by Australian-based Optus. Positioned at an orbital slot of 152° E, it will have an operational life of 15-plus years—France
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