Double success for Arianespace
October 6, 2016
By Chris Forrester
A giant Ariane-5 rocket successfully placed two satellites into space on the afternoon of October 5th. The two craft, one for Australia’s NBN, and the other a satellite that will supply DTH broadcasting to India, were both reported to be working correctly as they travelled on their transfer orbit.
The launch was Arianespace’s 74th consecutive success, and the 5th this year.
Australia’s Sky Muster 2 is a Ka-band craft which will supply broadband connectivity to rural areas of the country. It was built by Space Systems/Loral and is designed to operate for at least 15 years.
India’s GSat-18, in Ariane 5’s lower berth, is an Indian Space Research Organization I-3K model. Weighing 3,404 kilograms at launch, GSat-18 carries 48 C- and Ku-band transponders. It is designed to operate for 15 years from 74 degrees east in geostationary orbit.