This Ariane 5 today rolled out from the Spaceport’s Final Integration Building to the ELA-3 launch zone, where it is scheduled for liftoff during a time slot that opens at 6:36 p.m. and continues to 7:05 p.m. in French Guiana.

For the 63rd launch of an Ariane 5 – and the 207th mission of an Ariane family launcher overall – the payload lift performance is approximately 9,640 kg., which includes a combined total of more than 7,560 kg. for the EchoStar XVII and MSG-3 spacecraft, plus the launch vehicle’s dual-passenger dispenser system and satellite integration hardware.

The EchoStar XVII relay platform will be operated by Hughes Network Systems, and is based on Space Systems/Loral’s 1300-series satellite bus.   It is designed to deliver broadband services to consumers, businesses and government customers across North America.

MSG-3 was produced by a Thales Alenia Space-led consortium for EUMETSAT (the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites).  Once operational in geostationary orbit, it will provide detailed images of Europe, Africa and the North Atlantic for use by meteorologists and national weather forecasters.