The COMSATBw-1 spacecraft was delivered to French Guiana this week, flown in aboard a chartered Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner that landed at Cayenne's Rochambeau International Airport. It was then transferred by road to the Spaceport's payload preparation facility, which is designed to provide total security in the processing of such sensitive satellites. EADS Astrium is prime contractor for the German military program's space segment and has booked its two spacecraft for Arianespace launches — starting with COMSATBw-1 on the upcoming Ariane 5 flight. With a liftoff mass of 2,500 kg. at launch and a design life of 15 years, the satellites will operate in geostationary orbit and provide communication services over an area stretching from America to eastern Asia. COMSATBw-1 will be launched on Ariane 5's late September mission along with the Amazonas 2 satellite, which arrived in French Guiana last week and is undergoing pre-launch processing in the S5 facility.
Built by EADS Astrium using the Eurostar E3000 spacecraft bus, Amazonas 2 will weigh approximately 5,500 kg. at liftoff and is to be operated by the Spanish-based HISPASAT telecommunications operator. It is designed to provide relay capacity over the Americas with a coverage area extending from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. Amazonas 2 carries 54 Ku-band transponders and 10 C-band transponders for the relay of a wide range of communications services, including direct-to-home television.