On Wednesday, December 29, Arianespace orbited two communications satellites: Hispasat 1E for the Spanish operator Hispasat, and Koreasat 6 for the KT Corporation.
55th Ariane 5 launch, 41st success in a row
This latest successful Ariane 5 launch, the sixth in 2010, once again proves the launcher’s operational capabilities. Ariane 5 is the only commercial satellite launcher now on the market capable of simultaneously launching two payloads and handling a complete range of missions, from commercial launches into geostationary orbit to scientific satellites boosted into special orbits. The 55th launch of an Ariane 5, and 41st successful mission in a row, clearly demonstrate the launcher’s reliability and availability. Arianespace’s launch Service & Solutions continue to set the global standard and guarantee independent access to space for all customers, including national and international space agencies, private firms and governments.
With the launch this evening, Arianespace has now orbited 12 commercial geostationary communications satellites out of the total of 19 launched since the beginning of the year, giving it more than 60% of the market.
Supporting major operators worldwide
Since being founded, Arianespace has provided launch services to 78 different customers. Ariane launchers have orbited a total of 289 satellites, representing more than half of all commercial satellites now in service worldwide.
Hispasat 1E is the sixth Spanish satellite launched by Arianespace. In 1992 and 1993 the European launcher orbited Hispasat 1A and 1B. In 2005 and 2006 Hispasat and its subsidiary Hisdesat called on Arianespace to launch the XTAR-Eur and Spainsat satellites. Most recently, Arianespace launched the Amazonas-2 satellite for Hispasat in October 2009.
Koreasat 6 is the second satellite launched by Arianespace for the South Korean operator KT Corporation, after Koreasat 3 in 1999. In June 2010, Arianespace launched the COMS multimission satellite for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).
Hispasat 1E/Koreasat 6 mission at a glance
The mission was carried out by an Ariane 5 ECA launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Liftoff was on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 6:27 pm local time in Kourou (4:27 pm in Washington, D.C., 21:27 UT, 10:27 pm in Paris and Madrid, and on Wednesday, December 30, at 6:27 am in Seoul).
Hispasat 1E was built by Space Systems/Loral using an LS 1300 platform, and weighed 5,320 kg at launch. Carrying 53 active Ku-band transponders, this powerful satellite will give Hispasat additional capacity, plus an expanded range of video and data transmission services, with European and pan-American coverage. The satellite’s design life is 15 years, and it will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 30 degrees West.
Koreasat 6 was built by Thales Alenia Space using a Star-2 platform from Orbital Sciences Corporation of the United States. Weighing nearly 2,850 kg at launch, it is equipped with 30 active Ku-band transponders. The satellite will take over the Koreasat 3 mission with enhanced capability and provide broadcasting and communications services across all of Korean peninsular from its orbital position at 116 degrees East. The satellite has a design life exceeding 15 years.
