Ariane 5 orbits the EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 satellites
Ariane 5 begins its successful mission to deploy
EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3, ascending from the Spaceport just
before sunset.
November 10, 2012
Two telecommunications satellites that will provide expanded relay
capacity over areas that include Europe, Africa, the Middle East,
Central Asia and South America were orbited today by Arianespace on
the company’s sixth Ariane 5 flight of 2012.
Lifting off on time at 6:05 p.m. from the Spaceport’s ELA-3
launch complex in French Guiana, the heavy-lift workhorse deployed
its EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 spacecraft passengers during a
33-minute mission. It was the 66th flight of an Ariane 5 and the
210th launch of a European-built Ariane family vehicle, maintaining
Arianespace’s sustained mission pace in 2012.
“This continues our series of records with the 52nd consecutive
of our Ariane 5 launcher, which represents a reliability level that
is unequaled in our industry and guarantees European access to space
for the benefit of our institutional and commercial customers,” said
Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall after today’s success.
EUTELSAT 21B was the 26th satellite launched by Arianespace for
the European-based Eutelsat telecommunications operator, while Star
One C3 marked the ninth Brazilian telecommunications platform that
Arianespace has orbited.
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Ariane 5 is shown in the ELA-3 launch zone prior to its
liftoff on a successful flight that orbited EUTELSAT 21B and
Star One C3.
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The EUTELSAT 21B spacecraft was built by Thales Alenia Space and
will offer significantly increased capacity for data, professional
video and government services when compared to EUTELSAT 21A relay
platform it is to succeed. The new satellite’s 40 Ku-band
transponders provide improved power and coverage, incorporating an
enhanced widebeam for coverage across Europe into North Africa and
Central Asia, while also featuring two dedicated high-power beams
covering northwest Africa and the Middle East/Central Asia regions.
Star One C3’s coverage encompasses Miami and the entire South
America region – including the Andean countries of Bolivia, Peru,
Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela – enabling its Brazilian-based Star
One operator to expand the capacity and coverage for TV, data and
voice transmission services.
Produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation, Star One C3 has 28
C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders, enabling this satellite to
replace the Brasilsat B3 satellite currently operating at the 75º W
orbital position. In addition, Star One C3’s will reach the offshore
waters under Brazilian jurisdiction to the pre-salt area, where new
oil fields are planned for exploitation.
Today’s Ariane 5 flight delivered a total payload lift
performance of approximately 9,215 kg., which included 8,250 kg for
the two passengers released into geostationary transfer orbit, along
with the launcher’s dual-payload dispenser system and integration
hardware.
“I wish to thank all of those in Europe, as well as in French
Guiana, who develop, produce and operate our launcher, and to tell
them that today’s success is their success, once again enabling us
to win the confidence of our customers and to reinforce our
position,” Le Gall added in his post-launch concluding remarks. “In
addition, the new orders we’ve booked since start of this year are
truly remarkable, demonstrating how Ariane is by far – and has been
for a long time – the launcher that is preferred by operators
worldwide.”
Arianespace will continue its busy year of launch activity in
2012, with the next mission planned for November 30, using a
medium-lift Soyuz to orbit the French Pléiades 1B dual-use,
very-high-resolution satellite. This will be the fourth flight of a
Soyuz from the French Guiana since its introduction at the Spaceport
in October 2011.
