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Mission Update

Ariane 5 orbits ProtoStar I and BADR-6 on its fourth mission of 2008

July 7, 2008

Today’s mission carried the 260th and 261st payloads entrusted to the Ariane launch vehicle.

Arianespace delivered two more telecommunications satellites into orbit for its international customer base today, using Ariane 5 to orbit ProtoStar I and BADR-6 on a heavy-lift mission from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

This 40th flight of an Ariane 5 is part of the seven missions planned by Arianespace in 2008 – making it the busiest year for this workhorse launcher since the vehicle's commercial introduction in 1999.

"Today's success – the fourth in 2008, and our eighth during the past 11 months – demonstrates the full capabilities that we have to offer," said Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall in comments after the launch. "Ariane 5 brings together power and reliability, combined with the increase in launch rate to meet our customers' needs."

Payload performance for today's mission was approximately 8,640 kg. – which included more than 7,530 kg. for the mission's ProtoStar I and BADR-6 spacecraft passengers, along with their integration hardware and the SYLDA 5 multiple satellite dispenser system.

ProtoStar I is the first satellite for a new operator – the ProtoStar telecommuncations service provider. Built by Space Systems/Loral with the 1300 spacecraft bus, ProtoStar I will provide relay capacity over Asia for direct-to-home (DTH) television broadcasting, as well as broadband communication requirements across the region.

The Superbird 7 satellite is undergoing preparations at Europe’s Spaceport for Ariane 5's next mission, which is scheduled for the first half of August.

"This satellite is the best example of the extraordinary developments in high-definition direct TV broadcasting and high data rate Internet links," Le Gall explained. "In these areas, Arianespace is the launch services provider that satellite operators prefer by far."

The ProtoStar I satellite was the 33rd Space Systems/Loral-built payload orbited by Arianespace, and it carries 22 36MHz-equivalent Ku-band transponders and 38 36MHz-equivalent C-band transponders for operation from an orbital position of 98.5 deg. East.

"This success is a very important event for our company, and it has been a very long journey - so our thanks and gratitude go to Arianespace for a terrific job with our first satellite," said Philip Father, President and CEO of ProtoStar. He also thanked Arianespace for providing a "lucky charm" rock, which was presented prior to the mission by Clay Mowry, president of the U.S.-based Arianespace, Inc. subsidiary. Father said it will be brought to all future ProtoStar launches.

BADR-6 was manufactured by EADS Astrium, and is the sixth spacecraft launched by Arianespace for the Arabsat satellite telecommunications operator. This relay platform will open up new video broadcasting and telecommunications services for the entire Middle East and North Africa region, along with a large part of sub-Saharan Africa. It is equipped with 20 Ku-band transponders and 24 C-band transponders, and will be positioned at Arabsat's 26 deg. East geostationary orbital location.

Abdulhadl Al Hassani, the Spacecraft Mission Director at Arabsat, said Ariane 5's success was a "moment of sheer joy and excitement." In referencing Arianespace's unofficial motto of " launches speak louder than words," he added: "We'd like tell Arianespace that after today's launch, we hear you loud and clear!"

The countdown for today's mission was performed without interruption, leading to the on-time liftoff at 6:47 p.m., local time in French Guiana. This was just prior to sunset, providing a rare daylight view of the launcher's liftoff and ascent. The weather cooperated, providing an area clear of clouds that allowed tracking cameras to follow the Ariane 5's downrange trajectory for well over two minutes – which included the separation of the launcher's two solid boosters at an altitude of approximately 65 km.

Arianespace's tradition of placing its customer logos on the Ariane 5's payload fairing was expanded on this mission with the addition of a special logo commemorating the new French presidency of the European Union's Council. France assumed the rotating European Union presidency on July 1 for a six-month period.

Le Gall announced that Arianespace's next Ariane 5 launch will be in performed in the first half of August, and is to carry the Superbird 7 and AMC 21 satellites.

The heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA for this upcoming mission has completed its initial build-up in the Launcher Integration Building at Europe's Spaceport, and is ready for transfer to the Final Assembly Building where it will be fitted with its dual-satellite payload. Delivery of the Superbird 7 spacecraft to French Guiana occurred last week, allowing final checkout of this payload to begin.

• Arianespace's official Launch Kit has additional information on this Ariane 5 mission with Skynet 5C & Turksat 3A.
• The press release has more details on today's heavy-lift success.