Pre-launch processing is now underway in French Guiana with ARSAT-1, one of two satellite passengers that will be orbited on Arianespace’s fifth heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission in 2014 – which is planned for mid-October.
ARSAT-1 is the milestone first geostationary satellite built in Argentina, produced by the company INVAP for operator ARSAT (Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales Sociedad Anonima) – with Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space serving as leading equipment suppliers.
After its deployment by Ariane 5, ARSAT-1 will operate from an orbital position of 72 deg. West – from which it deliver a wide range of telecommunications, data transmission, telephone and television services across all of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Joining ARSAT-1 on this upcoming mission – designated Flight VA220 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system – is the Intelsat DLA-1 co-passenger, which was built for international operator Intelsat by SSL (Space Systems/Loral). Together with the DLA-2 satellite that will be lofted on a future flight, DLA-1 will greatly expand direct-to-home entertainment offerings in Latin America, as well as provide backup and restoration services.
The October launch with ARSAT-1 and Intelsat DLA-1 will follow Arianespace’s Ariane 5 mission on September 11, which is to loft a pair of commercial telecommunications satellites: MEASAT-3b and Optus 10.
