This latest, successful launch is the third in 2011 and the 58th launch of an Ariane 5 as welll as being the 44th successful launch in a row. ST-2 is the second satellite launched by Arianespace for SingTel and Chunghwa, following the launch of ST-1 in 1998. GSAT-8 is the 14th ISRO satellite to be launched by Ariane. Since the launch of the Apple experimental satellite on Flight L03 in 1981, Arianespace has orbited 13 Indian satellites.
The heavy-lift Ariane 5 provided a total payload delivery performance of more than 9,010 kg. for today’s dual-satellite mission. Photo courtesy of Arianespace.
The mission was carried out by an Ariane 5 ECA launcher from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Liftoff was on Friday, May 20 at 5:38 pm local time in Kourou (4:38 pm in Washington, D.C., 20:38 UT, 10:38 pm in Paris, and on Saturday, May 21 at 2:08 am in Bangalore and at 4:38 am in Taipei and Singapore). The ST-2 satellite was built by Mitsubishi Electric Company (MELCO) of Japan, using a DS2000 platform, and weighed 5,090 kg at launch. Equipped with Ku- and C-band transponders, ST-2 will provide IP-based fixed and mobile, voice and data transmission satellite services to businesses, especially direct broadcast TV operators and maritime companies in Asia and the Middle East. It has a design life of 15 years.
GSAT-8, designed, assembled and integrated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in Bangalore, southern India, weighed 3,100 kg at launch, and offers a design life exceeding 12 years. It is fitted with 24 Ku-band transponders, and will mainly provide direct-to-home TV broadcast and radio-navigation services. Its coverage zone includes the entire Indian subcontinent.