Preparations for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission have entered a new phase with the arrival of its Hispasat 1E telecommunications relay platform at the Spaceport. The satellite is due to be launched before the end of the year.
Hispasat 1E was delivered to French Guiana by a chartered Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner (see picture), and the satellite is now undergoing its initial pre-launch checkout process in the Spaceport’s payload preparation facilities. The satellite will be launched by Ariane flight 199 together with Koreasat 6.
The satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral using an LS 1300 platform and will have an estimated liftoff mass of 5,270 kg. Fitted with 53 active Ku-band transponders, the satellite will provide Hispasat with additional capacity, enabling it to offer video and data transmission services with European and pan-American coverage from an orbital position of 30 degrees West.
Koreasat 6 will weigh about 2,750 kg. at launch, and is to carry 30 Ku-band transponders. Produced by Thales Alenia Space using a Star-2 platform from Orbital Sciences Corporation, the Koreasat 6 satellite will provide telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout Korea from an orbital position at 116 degrees East.
The mission with Koreasat 6 and Hispasat 1E will be the sixth, and concluding, Ariane 5 launch for 2010,.
