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Ariane 5 Lofts Twin Birds For European Defense And Turkish TV
Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Jun 12, 2008 On Thursday evening, June 12, Arianespace boosted two satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO): the Skynet 5C military communications satellite for Astrium and Paradigm on behalf of the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), and the civil communications satellite Turksat 3A for Turkish operator Turksat AS, as part of a turnkey contract with Thales Alenia Space The latest successful launch of an Ariane 5, the third in 2008 - and 25th in a row - confirms that Arianespace's launch Service and Solutions continue to set the standard for all civil and military telecom operators. It also reflects the strategic importance of the Ariane launcher, which guarantees independent access to space for European governments. Ariane 5 is the only commercial launcher in service today capable of simultaneously launching two payloads, and gives Arianespace customers unrivalled performance, flexibility and competitiveness. Serving military and civil communications operators Skynet 5C is the 30th military payload to choose Ariane. Arianespace has already orbited 6 Skynet satellites for the British MoD and NATO including the Astrium built Skynet 5A and 5B launched in 2007 and which are both operational. Turksat 3A is the fifth Turkish satellite to be launched by Arianespace. Arianespace has established relations of mutual trust with Turksat and Thales Alenia Space that reach back many years, and has launched nearly two-thirds of the satellites made by Thales Alenia Space. Turksat 3A will be the 53rd platform built by Thales Alenia Space to be launched by Arianespace. Skynet 5C/Turksat 3A 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 Thursday, June 12, at 7:05 pm local time in Kourou (6:05 pm in Washington, D.C., 22:05 UT and 12:05 am in Paris on Friday, June 13, and at 01:05 am in Ankara). Provisional parameters at injection of the cryogenic upper stage (ESC-A) were: Perigee: 250.0 km for a target of 249.7 km (+/-4) Skynet 5C was launched on behalf of Astrium, which in turn delivers the satellite in orbit to Paradigm, an Astrium Services company. Paradigm will provide secure telecom services to the British armed forces, NATO and other countries which already use the Skynet military communications satellites. Built by Astrium using a Eurostar E3000 platform, Skynet 5C weighed 4,638 kg at launch. It will be positioned at 17.8 degrees West. Turksat 3A was built by Thales Alenia Space using a Spacebus 4000B2 platform, within the scope of a turnkey contract awarded by operator Turksat AS. Weighing 3,110 kg at launch, it will be positioned at 42 degrees East. Fitted with 24 Ku-band transponders, and offering beginning-of-life power of about 8 kW, Turksat 3A will enable the operator Turksat to deliver communications services as well as TV broadcasts in Europe, Turkey and Central Asia. Related Links
Ariane 5 Is Poised For Liftoff With Skynet 5C And Turksat 3A Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Jun 12, 2008Arianespace's third mission of 2008 is ready for liftoff tomorrow evening (June 12) following the roll-out of Ariane 5 to the Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone this morning. |
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