Intelsat launches Latin America satellite

The unmanned Ariane 5 rocket blasted off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana at 4:34 p.m. EDT (2034 GMT), marking the seventh mission of the year for launch provider Arianespace.

With a total payload mass of 9,922 kg, EUTELSAT 8 West B and Intelsat 34 will be the 513th and 514th satellites launched by Arianespace. The next day, the Ariane 5 rocket was rolled out to the Spaceport’s launch zone.

The 180 ft. (54.8 m) tall ECA is an improved version of the Ariane 5 launcher, designed to deliver payloads, mainly communications satellites, weighing up to 10 metric tons to orbit.

Importantly, both satellites are said to be in good shape following the lift-off.

The bird is based on a 5.8-metric-ton-class relay platform built by Thales Alenia Space, featuring 40 operational Ku-band transponders.

The Intelsat 34 was transferred to the launch vehicle days before the August 20 liftoff by an Ariane 5 rocket – the satellite could only be moved at night due to the hot temperatures in French Guiana, the launch site.

From 8°W orbital position, the Eutelsat 8 West B will join the existing Eutelsat and the Egyptian-made Nilesat in 7°W position, to support HD and ultra-HD direct-to-home TV broadcast services to the Middle East and North Africa, as well as telecommunications services in Africa and eastern South America. It will bring replacement relay capacity for two other satellites at 304.5 degrees East longitude. The satellite has a design life of about 15 years.

“We’ve been friends and partners with Eutelsat for over 30 years, and we intend to continue!” Intelsat’s relationship with Arianespace began in October 1983 with the launch of Intelsat 507.

“Intelsat 34 is a great example of the breadth of services that Intelsat’s satellites are able to provide to communities around the world”, said Stephen Spengler, CEO at Intelsat.

Intelsat 34 uses SSL’s heritage electric propulsion system, the SPT-100, which is actively in use on 17 satellites with more than 40,000 hours of successful on-orbit operation. The 7,280-lb. satellite (3,300 kg) is created to replace the two older satellites Intelsat 805 and Galaxy 11.

“In a few weeks, Intelsat 34 will start distributing video and media comment to millions over Latin America, as well as Internet access and TV programs over the Atlantic for those who are lucky enough to travel often between, for instance, the U.S. and Europe”, Guillemin said.

Next is a Soyuz rocket launch set for September 10 with the next two satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation network, followed September 30 by the next Ariane 5 flight with communications satellites for Argentina and Australia.

Arianespace also has performed two light-lift Vega missions to date in 2015: Flight VV05 on June 22, and February 11’s Flight VV04; along with one utilizing its medium-weight Soyuz vehicle (Flight VS11 on March 27).

Before the end of the year, Arianespace plans another Ariane 5 launch in early November with another dual-payload for Saudi Arabia’s telecom operator Arabsat and the Indian Space Research Organization.