|
KOUROU, French Guiana, Jan. 23, 2007/Satnews
Daily/ ― The first in a series of new-generation secure military
communications satellites has made initial contact with Ariane 5
hardware as pre-launch preparations continue with the United Kingdom's
Skynet 5A spacecraft at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.
Arianespace said Skynet 5A was installed on the cone-shape payload
adapter structure that serves as the satellite's interface with Ariane
5. Built by EADS Astrium, Skynet 5A is one of two payloads to be orbited
by the first Arianespace heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission of 2007.
EADS Astrium selected Ariane 5 to orbit all three Skynet 5-series
satellites, underscoring the vehicle's role as a launcher of choice for
a growing number of government and military payloads.
The Skynet 5 satellites will provide secure communications services for
the British armed forces, NATO and a number of other countries. Their
design is based on the new high-power E3000 variant of EADS Astrium's
Eurostar satellite bus, which has accumulated over 200 years operational
life. Each Skynet 5 will have a launch mass of approximately 5 metric
tons, and is to operate with a payload power of 5 kW - which is up to 4
times more than the previous-generation Skynet 4 satellites.
The Skynet 5 platforms will be operated for the United Kingdom's
Ministry of Defence by Paradigm Secure Communications Limited, a
commercial organization that is a wholly-owned EADS SPACE Services
subsidiary
Skynet 5A will be joined by India's Insat 4B telecommunications
satellite on the dual-payload mission. The mission - Arianespace's first
in 2007 - is scheduled for early March.
Recent Stories:
Skynet 5A Military
Satellite Arrives for Arianespace's First Mission in 2007
Arianespace to Launch ProtoStar I
Arianespace All Set for Dec. 8 Launch of
AMC-18, WildBlue-1 Satellites
Arianespace to Launch COMS-1 for South Korea
|
