The mission will orbit Intelsat 17 for Intelsat of the U.S., along with HYLAS 1 for operation by Avanti Communications in the United Kingdom. Intelsat 17 will be positioned at 66 degrees East, offering programmers mdistribution in a region that extends across Asia and into Europe and Africa. Built by Space Systems/Loral, Intelsat 17's C- and Ku-band capacity will provide multi-continental coverage, and this spacecraft will replace the Intelsat 702 satellite that was launched by Arianespace in June 1994.
The HYLAS 1 spacecraft was designed and built by EADS Astrium for satellite broadband operator Avanti Communications, and will bring high-speed broadband services to remote rural areas across Europe using a highly adaptable payload. Operating in the Ku- and Ka-bands, the spacecraft is designed to allocate varying amounts of power and bandwidth to the various regions within its footprint, reacting to the highs and lows of traffic demand. The HYLAS 1 platform was provided by Antrix Corporation - then Indian Space Research Organisation's commercial arm, with satellite assembly and qualification testing performed in Bangalore, India.
Intelsat 17 is loaded in California for its shipment to the Spaceport in French Guiana aboard an Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner (photo at left). It joined HYLAS 1, which is shown at right after the opening of its protective shipping container in one of the Spaceport’s clean room facilities.
Arianespace remains on track for a total of six Ariane 5 flights in 2010.