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| Another Ariane 5 ECA begins its
assembly process at the Arianespace’s Spaceport in Kourou,
French Guiana.
(Arianespace/ESA/CNES photo) |
LONDON, Jan. 4, 2006/Satnews Daily/ — EADS
Astrium has selected Arianespace’s Ariane 5 for the launch of the third
of the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) next-generation secure military
telecommunications satellite, Skynet 5C.
EADS Astrium said its in-orbit delivery contract
follows Paradigm Secure Communications’ recent amendment to the existing
Skynet 5 Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract with the UK MoD.
Arianespace was previously selected in 2004 for the launch of the first
two Skynet 5 satellites - Skynet 5A and Skynet 5B. The launch of Skynet
5A is scheduled for the second half of 2006 with 5B in 2007 and 5C in
2008. The launch contract was signed at the end of December 2005.
Skynet 5A and 5B will replace the existing Skynet 4 satellites, also
built by EADS Astrium, which are already owned and operated by Paradigm
Secure Communications.
Last month, Paradigm signed an amendment to the Skynet 5 contract to
provide increased value for money to the UK MoD. A key feature of the
amendment was to mitigate the effect of changes in the insurance market
through the order and launch of a third satellite, Skynet 5C, and
associated increased concession period until 2020. Paradigm Secure
Communications, part of EADS Space Services, signed a $4.38 billion
(£2.5 billion) PFI contract with the MoD UK in October 2003 for the
provision of military satellite communications services.
Meanwhile,
Arianespace said its 2006 launch activity is off to a fast start as
preparations begin for another Ariane 5 ECA heavy-lift mission with a
dual-satellite payload that is to provide civilian and
government/military communications capacity.
This upcoming flight is scheduled for February 21 with Eutelsat's Hot
Bird 7A television broadcast spacecraft and the SpainSat government
telecommunications satellite for Hisdesat.
According to Arianespace, mission preparations began on January 3 at
Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana when the Ariane 5's main cryogenic
stage was moved into position over its mobile launch table inside the
assembly building. This clears the way for the stage's mating with the
launcher's two solid rocket boosters, completing the bottom component of
the heavy-lift vehicle.
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