Ariane Flight VA234

with Star One D1 and JCSAT-15

overview

Payload(s)
Star One D1, JCSAT-15
Launch vehicle
Ariane 5 ECA
Launch date
December 21, 2016
Status
Success
Customer(s)
Embratel Star One, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation
Prime contractor(s)
SSL
Launch site
Spaceport, French Guiana (Guiana Space Center)
Orbit
Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO)

mission
description

For its 11th launch of the year, and the seventh with an Ariane 5 from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana during 2016, Arianespace will orbit two satellites: Star One D1 for the private operator Embratel/Star One, and JCSAT-15 for Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation.

For the second time this year, Arianespace will orbit two SSL-built satellites on the same Ariane 5 launcher.

Kourou
Between 05:30 p.m. and 06:45 p.m.
Washington, D.C.
Between 03:30 p.m. and 04:45 p.m.
Universal Time (UTC)
Between 20:30 and 21:45
Paris
Between 09:30 p.m. and 10:45 a.m.

Payloads

Star One D1 satellite

starone_graphicStar One D1 will be the 11th satellite orbited by Arianespace for the private operator Embratel Star One. Its latest launch for this operator was with the Star One C4 satellite in July 2015.

Embratel Star One is the largest satellite operator in Latin America. Arianespace and Embratel Star One have been working together successfully for some 30 years, and Arianespace has launched all of Embratel Star One’s satellites.

Star One D1 is the initial fourth-generation satellite to be deployed by this operator. It will handle different missions, including broadcasting, broadband, Internet access and other digital applications. Star One D1 also is the largest satellite built to date for Embratel Star One.

Fitted with 70 active transponders in Ka-, C- and Ku-band, Star One D1 will be positioned at 84 degrees West. It will cover Brazil, Latin America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Star One D1 was built by SSL (Space Systems Loral) using an SSL 1300 platform, in Palo Alto, California. It will be the 60th SSL satellite launched by Arianespace.

JCSAT-15 satellite

jcsat15-graphic2
JCSAT-15 will be the 18th Sky Perfect JSAT satellite assigned to Arianespace for launch. The most recent Arianespace launch for this operator was with JCSAT-13 in May 2012.

SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation is a leader in the converging fields of broadcasting and communications. It is Asia’s largest satellite operator with a fleet of 17 satellites.  Sky Perfect JSAT is a provider of both multi-channel pay TV broadcasting and satellite communications services.

SKY Perfect JSAT delivers a broad range of entertainment through the SKY PerfecTV! platform, the most extensive in Japan with a total of 3 million subscribers.

JCSAT-15 will offer a range of communications services for Japan, including broadcasting, data transfer, and maritime and aeronautical applications for the Oceania and Indian Ocean region.

Located at 110 degrees East longitude, it will replace the N-SAT-110 satellite launched in 2000 by Arianespace.

JCSAT-15 was built by SSL (Space Systems Loral) using an SSL 1300 platform, in Palo Alto, California. It will be the 61st SSL satellite to be launched by Arianespace.

countdown
and flight

events
  • Start of final countdown
  • Check of electrical systems
  • Start of filling of EPC with liquid oxygen and hydrogen
  • Start of filling of ESC-A with liquid oxygen and hydrogen
  • show the countdown
  • Liftoff
    00:00
  • show the countdown
  • EAP separation
  • Fairing jettisoned
  • Acquisition by Natal tracking station
  • End of EPC thrust phase
  • EPC separation
  • Ignition of ESC-A stage
  • Acquisition by Ascension tracking station
  • Data acquisition by Libreville tracking station
  • Acquisition by Malindi tracking station
  • Injection
  • Star One D1 satellite separation
  • SYLDA separation
  • JCSAT-15 satellite separation
  • End of the Arianespace commercial mission
  • End of the Arianespace mission