Successful launch of HISPASAT’s Amazonas 4A satellite

22 March, 2014

The HISPASAT Group has successfully launched, at 23.04 Spanish time, its eleventh satellite, the Amazonas 4A , from the European Space Agency base in Kourou (French Guiana), aboard the Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle built by Arianespace.

Approximately 34 minutes after the rocket’s takeoff, the Amazonas 4A satellite separated from the launch vehicle and initialisation and rollout of the solar panels began. From that point, the manoeuvres got underway to position the new satellite in the geostationary orbit where the test phase will take place over several weeks, to confirm that it is functioning correctly.

For the president of HISPASAT, Elena Pisonero, “ the Amazonas 4A is the HISPASAT Group’s response to a challenge: to supply, in record time, additional space capacity in Latin America to satisfy the increase in demand for audiovisual services which will come with the holding of the important sporting events in Brazil in the years to come.” Pisonero said HISPASAT’s strategic bet on Latin America has made it a leading operator and a reference company in the region from the very beginning. She added: “We want to continue to be true to this commitment offering innovative and high quality services”.

The new satellite, which has a useful life of 15 years, will provide coverage to South America, from Venezuela and Colombia to the south of Argentina and Chile. Operated by HISPAMAR Satélites, the Group’s Brazilian company, the Amazonas 4A will widen the offering of audiovisual services in the region.

The Amazonas 4A was manufactured by Orbital, based on its Geostar 2.4e platform. It has a launch mass of nearly three tonnes and measures 23 metres wide and 4.7 metres high.