Ariane 5’s Flight VA216 has orbited two satellites, Astra 5B for SES and Amazonas 4A for Hispasat.
Lifting off from the Spaceport in French Guiana, Flight VA216 provided a total payload lift performance of some 9,580 kg. on the delivery mission to geostationary transfer orbit.
Astra 5B was deployed by Ariane 5 at 27 minutes into the mission, with Amazonas 4A separated from the launcher at 34 minutes after liftoff.
This was Ariane 5’s second flight in 2014, and the 73rd overall launch of the vehicle, continuing its on-target track record with the 59th consecutive success.
Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël noted that Astra 5B was the SES group’s 39th satellite to use Arianespace launchers in the framework of a 25-year-long cooperation that started in December 1988 with the launch of Astra 1A. SES operates the leading direct-to-home (DTH) satellite broadcast system in Europe based on its Astra family of satellites, serving more than 135 million households via cable and DTH networks.
Amazonas 4A was the eighth satellite launched by Arianespace for Spain, and the sixth for Hispasat. It is part of the Amazonas relay platform series that is expanding Hispasat’s business over South America.
“I am happy that, tonight, we have been up to the trust Hispasat placed in our service, and I wish Amazonas 4A a safe journey to its final destination,” Israël said in comments from the Spaceport’s mission control center.
“I have no doubt it will be there on spot to broadcast worldwide the images of La Roja’s victory in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil!”
