The launch took place on Wednesday, June 28 at 6:15 p.m. (local time), from the Guiana Space Center (CSG), Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana (South America).

With this seventh launch of the year, and the fourth by Ariane 5 in 2017, Arianespace marks the 80th successful launch in a row by this heavy launcher.

Arianespace at the service of in-flight connectivity for Hellas Sat and Inmarsat

Hellas Sat, a major satellite operator and subsidiary of Arabsat Group, provides communications services in Europe, the Middle East and South Africa.

The Hellas Sat 3 payload, the second for the operator Hellas Sat and the first to be orbited by Arianespace, will expand the company’s business reach by providing direct-to-home (DTH) TV broadcast and telecommunications services, as well as the distribution of high-definition (HD) and ultra-high definition (UHD) video content in Europe, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.

These fixed satellite services (FSS) and broadcast satellite services (BSS) will include a cross-strap service between Europe and South Africa.

Arianespace has another Hellas Sat satellite – Hellas Sat 4 – in its order book. This spacecraft will further increase the operator’s service availability.

Inmarsat S EAN is the ninth payload orbited by Arianespace for Inmarsat – a company specialized in global mobile satellite communications – since the launch of MARECS A in 1981.

The Inmarsat S EAN (European Aviation Network) payload comprises the space segment of a new hybrid system, integrating satellite-based services with a complementary ground network developed by Inmarsat’s strategic partner Deutsche Telekom.

The EAN network, which will commence commercial services in the second half of 2017, will deliver a truly seamless inflight WiFi service for Europe’s airlines and their passengers.

The International Airlines Group (IAG), is confirmed as the launch customer for the new service.  IAG has begun equipping its aircraft and aims to have 90% of its short haul fleet complete by early 2019.

Arianespace, a partner of reference for ISRO since 1981

Following the launch of GSAT-18 on October 5, 2016, GSAT-17 is the 21st satellite orbited by Arianespace for the Indian space agency ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization). Arianespace has won nearly 90% of all Indian geostationary satellite launch contracts open to competitive bidding.

GSAT-17 will join ISRO’s fleet of 17 operational telecommunications satellites. It will provide both fixed (FSS) and mobile (MSS) satellite services, and also handle data transmission and search & rescue (SAR) services.

It carries on ISRO’s mission of using space to support the development of the Indian sub-continent by launching satellites of all types (Earth observation, telecommunications, educational program broadcasting, science, navigation, etc.).

Arianespace’s order book includes another ISRO satellite to be launched: GSAT-11.

80th success in a row for Ariane 5

Today’s Flight VA238 mission was the 80th successful Ariane 5 launch in a row, a string of successes that started in 2003. Over the last 14 years, the Ariane 5 launcher has orbited 160 satellites for both commercial and government customers, exceeding 677 metric tons.

This enviable track record reflects the exceptional reliability and availability of Arianespace’s heavy-lift launcher, and confirms its status as the most reliable launcher on the commercial market today.

Including this mission, Arianespace has now carried out seven launches over a period of five months and a day in 2017, sending 10 satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and one into a non-GTO orbit, with a cumulated payload weight of nearly 45 metric tons. Arianespace plans five more launches in 2017: three by Ariane 5 and two by the Vega light launcher.

Shortly after the announcement of the orbital injection of the two satellites, Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, said: “Arianespace is proud to serve our European and Indian customers with this fourth successful Ariane 5 launch of the year. We are very honored to have earned the trust of Hellas Sat in launching the second satellite in its operational fleet; and Inmarsat, for whom this launch marks the ninth by Arianespace since 1981; and of course ISRO, the Indian space agency, for which we performed our 21st launch today. I also would like to thank our long-standing partner Thales Alenia Space, which built the Hellas Sat 3-Inmarsat S EAN “condosat.”

“Today’s launch was the 80th success in a row for Ariane 5 over a period of 14 years – an exceptional performance that anchors its position as the most reliable commercial launcher in the marketplace. I also would like to thank all our partners in this successful team effort: ArianeGroup and the entire European launcher industry for the exceptional reliability and availability of our heavy-lift launcher; ESA, for its critical support of the Ariane program; CNES/CSG, along with our ground segment companies and all staff at the space center. Finally, I would like to congratulate the teams at Arianespace, who are celebrating this evening our successful seventh launch of the year, and the 290th launch by the Arianespace launcher family.”

About Arianespace

Arianespace uses space to make life better on Earth by providing launch services for all types of satellites into all orbits. It has orbited more than 550 satellites since 1980, using its family of three launchers, Ariane, Soyuz and Vega, from launch sites in French Guiana (South America) and Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Arianespace is headquartered in Evry, near Paris, and has a technical facility at the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, plus local offices in Washington, D.C., Tokyo and Singapore. Arianespace is a subsidiary of ArianeGroup, which holds 74% of its share capital, with the balance held by 17 other shareholders from the European launcher industry.