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Ariane 5 June 20, 2012

Arianespace to launch DZZ-HR high-resolution observation satellite

Today in Toulouse Arianespace has signed a launch Service & Solutions contract with Astrium to launch the DZZ-HR satellite for Kazakhstan.

Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, and Jean Dauphin, Director Earth Observation Navigation & Science – Astrium France, announced that they have signed today in Toulouse (France) the launch service & solutions contract for the DZZ-HR satellite.

The DZZ-HR high-resolution observation satellite is being built by Astrium for the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Weighing 900 kg at launch, the DZZ-HR satellite will be launched by Arianespace’s Vega light launcher into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 750 km. It will be launched from the Guiana Space Center, French Guiana, in the second quarter of 2014. The DZZ-HR system will be independently controlled by Kazakh operators who have been trained by Astrium.

Using images acquired by the DZZ-HR satellite from the entire planet, the system will provide very-high-quality panchromatic and multispectral products for a wide range of applications, including cadastral surveys, management of natural resources, environmental monitoring and homeland surveillance. Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said: “Today, with the European launcher Vega, we can offer all customers new launch services for this type of mission. This is the third contract for Vega, after Sentinel 2 and 3, and this time we are serving an end-customer outside of Europe. We are also delighted to be working once again with Astrium Satellites, with whom we have a long-standing relationship of mutual trust.” 

About Arianespace

Arianespace is the world’s leading launch service & solutions company, providing innovation to its customers since 1980. Backed by 21 shareholders and the European Space Agency, Arianespace offers an international workforce renowned for a culture of commitment and excellence. As of today, Arianespace had performed 206 Ariane launches (301 payloads), 26 Soyuz launches (2 at the Guiana Space Center and 24 at Baikonur with Starsem) and the first launch of Vega. It has a backlog of 22 Ariane 5, 15 Soyuz and 3 Vega launches, equal to more than three years of business.

Arianespace lancera le satellite d’observation DZZ-HR
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