The European Space Agency (ESA) has lifted two telecom satellites into their planned orbits from Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Approximately 28 minutes after takeoff, the launch flight VA226 first released Sky Muster, with a mass of 6,440kg and mounted in the upper position atop Ariane’s Sylda dual-payload carrier inside the fairing.
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Following a series of burns controlled by Ariane’s computer, it jettisoned the Sylda structure encasing the 2,977kg Arsat-2.
Around four minutes after the seperation of the first satellite, Arsat-2 was released into its own transfer orbit.
Argentina’s Arsat owns and operates Arsat-2 , which has a 15-year design lifespan. It will be positioned at 81°W in geostationary orbit to provide services, such as direct-to-home television, internet access services, data-transmission and internet telephony.
Sky Muster, with a lifecycle of 15 years, will be owned and operated by Australia’s National Broadband Network. It will operate between 135°E and 150°E in geostationary orbit.
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By GlobalDataThe satellites will provide fast broadband services to more than 200,000 Australians, living in rural and remote areas, including Norfolk, Christmas, Macquarie, and Cocos islands.
The latest launch has 10,196kg payload mass. The satellites weigh approximately 9,417kg.
Last August, the ESA conducted the fourth launch of Ariane 5.
During the launch, Ariane 5 flight VA225 delivered two telecom satellites, Eutelsat-8 West B and Intelsat-34, into their planned orbits.
Image: Ariane 5 flight VA226 lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana and delivered two telecom satellites, Sky Muster and Arsat-2, into their planned orbits. Photo: courtsey of ESA.
