Arianespace will orbit two satellites: SGDC for VisionaTecnologia Espacial on behalf of the Brazilian operator Telebras, and Koreasat-7 for the South Korean operator ktsat.
This mission, designated Flight VA236, will be the seventh all-Thales Alenia Space mission, as both satellites were built by this manufacturer.
The launch will be from Ariane Launch Complex No. 3 (ELA 3) in Kourou, French Guiana, on Tuesday, March 21.
The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) will take place on Friday, March 17, 2017 in Kourou, to authorize the start of operations for the final countdown.
Positioned at 75 degrees West, with its 57 Ka- and X-band transponders, the SGDC is a multi-spot beam HTS (high-throughput satellite) capable of delivering more than 57 Gbps over the Brazilian territory.
The SGDC will be operated and controlled by Telebras, a Brazilian telecommunication company controlled by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communication; and the Defense Ministry.
Koreasat-7 (pictured above) will provide a full range of video and data applications, including internet access, direct-to-home broadcasting (DTH), government communications and connectivity for VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) networks.
Positioned at 116 degrees East, Koreasat-7 is designed to provide higher throughput and extended coverage over Korea, the Philippines, the Indochinese Peninsula, India and Indonesia. Its added Ka-band capacity, with steerable beams, will enable it to meet increased demand.