Arianespace announced that the Nilesat and RascomStar-QAF satellites have arrived at the Spaceport for Ariane 5’s third launch this year, scheduled for August 3.
A chartered An-124 cargo jetliner arrived at Cayenne’s Rochambeau International Airport with the Nilesat-201 and RASCOM-QAF1R spacecraft, both of which were built by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor for their respective customers: Nilesat and RascomStar-QAF.
Nilesat-201 will enable the Egyptian satellite operator Nilesat to deliver digital DTH TV and radio broadcasting, along with high-speed data transmission services, to North Africa and the Middle East.
Utilising a Spacebus 4000B2 platform, Nilesat is equipped with 24 Ku-band and 4 Ka-band transponders. Its launch mass will be approximately 3,200 kg., and after its deployment by Ariane 5, the satellite will be
positioned at an orbital slot of 7 degrees West for a 15-year design operating lifetime.
The RASCOM-QAF1R spacecraft, based on the Spacebus 4000B3 platform, will ensure service continuity for the RascomStar-QAF operator and its customers, providing African access communications and information technologies – in particular rural telephony, from an orbital slot of 2.9 degrees East.
