An Ariane 5 vehicle successfully launched the Intelsat 30 satellite, which is hosting the DLA-1 payload for DirecTV Latin America from French Guiana.
The Intelsat 30 satellite, hosting the DLA-1 payload, separated from the rocket’s upper stage 28 minutes after launch, and signal acquisition has been confirmed.
The second payload deployed by Ariane 5 on the mission – Arsat-1 – is the first geostationary satellite built in Argentina. Arsat-1 will operate from an orbital position of 71.8 degrees West and will deliver a wide range of telecommunications, data transmission, telephone and television services across all of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Built for Intelsat by Space Systems/Loral (SSL), Intelsat 30 is a 20-kilowatt class Ku- and C-band satellite. The Ku-band payload, known as DLA-1, is designed to provide distribution services for DirecTV Latin America in South America and the Caribbean.
The C-band portion enhances Intelsat’s existing C-band service infrastructure serving Latin America. The satellite will be co-located with Intelsat’s Galaxy 3C satellite at 95 degrees West and is expected to have a service life of more than 15 years.
“The Intelsat 30 satellite, and its DLA1 payload, demonstrates the close collaboration and continuing strong relationship between DirecTV Latin America and Intelsat,” said Intelsat Chairman & CEO Dave McGlade. “We look forward to helping DirecTV Latin America deliver reliable, high quality entertainment to their subscribers throughout the region.”
Intelsat 30 marks the first of two new hybrid C- and Ku-band satellites, for which the Ku-band payload will provide services to DirecTV Latin America. The second satellite, Intelsat 31, is scheduled for launch in the second half of 2015.
