Arianespace to launch HellaSat-4/SGS-1 for Arabsat and KACST
Arianespace,
Arabsat and
King
Abdul-Aziz
City for
Science and
Technology
(KACST)
announced
today the
signature of
a launch
service
contract for
the Hellasat-4/Saudi
Geo
Satellite-1
satellite.
The
satellite
will be
built by
Lockheed
Martin as
part of a
turnkey
contract
with the
operator
Arabsat, and
for Saudi
Arabia-based
KASCT.
HellaSat-4/Saudi
Geo
Satellite-1
will be
launched in
2018 by an
Ariane 5
from the
Guiana Space
Center,
Europe's
Spaceport in
Kourou,
French
Guiana.
Offering a
design life
exceeding 15
years,
HellaSat-4/
Saudi Geo
Satellite-1
will weigh
about 6,000
kg at
launch. It
will provide
telecommunications
and
television
broadcasting
services
from its
orbital
position at
39° East
over Europe,
the Middle-Est
and north
Africa.
This is the
10th launch
contract
that
Arianespace
has signed
with
Arabsat.
Following
the signing
of this
latest
launch
contract,
Arianespace
Chairman and
CEO Stéphane
Israël said:
"Arianespace
is
particularly
proud to
serve once
again such a
historical
and
prestigious
operator as
Arabsat.
Since the
launch of
Arabsat-1A
in 1985,
Arianespace
had orbited
8 others
satellites
for this
operator.
Moreover,
Arabsat 6B
is scheduled
in the
second part
of the year.
I would also
like to
thank King
Abdul-Aziz
City for
Science and
Technology
for
entrusting
us with this
launch."
Khalid
Balkheyour,
President &
CEO of
ARABSAT
said: “This
year marks
the 30th
anniversary
of our
successful
partnership
with
Arianespace.
At ARABSAT,
we have
always
admired the
seriousness
and
professionalism
that
Arianespace
carry their
business
process,
always
seeking
perfection.”
“On behalf
of ARASAT
team, I
would like
to
congratulate
them on
their latest
successful
launch”,
Balkheyour
added.