With its fifth launch of 2019, scheduled for Thursday, June 20, at Ariane Launch Complex No. 3 (ELA 3), and the second this year using an Ariane 5 vehicle, Arianespace will serve two world-class satellite operators by orbiting T-16 and EUTELSAT 7C. Both spacecraft will be deployed to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

T-16

The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) will take place on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 in Kourou to authorize the start of operations for the final countdown. Flight VA248: Arianespace will orbit T-16 and EUTELSAT 7C

In performing this 104th Ariane 5 mission – the 71st with an Ariane 5 ECA version – Arianespace confirms its full capability in the geostationary launch services market segment.

T-16 is the 11th satellite to be orbited by Arianespace for AT&T, following SKY Mexico-1 and DIRECTV 15, launched together on an Ariane 5 in May 2015; and SKY Brasil-1, launched in February 2017.

T-16 was manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space and will provide high-power broadcast services in  Ku- and Ka-bands. Being flexible, the spacecraft can be operated from five orbital slots (from 99 degrees West to 119 degrees West) and will cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

EUTELSAT 7-C

EUTELSAT 7-C will be Eutelsat’s 33rd satellite to be launched by Arianespace since the first mission at its service, which deployed EUTELSAT-1 F1 in 1983.

EUTELSAT 7C is a high-power broadcast satellite for markets in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Turkey. It is equipped with 49 36-Mhz equivalent Ku-band transponders and will be located at Eutelsat’s 7 degrees East position.

EUTELSAT 7C was built by Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California.