With the month-long labour strike now over the Kourou spaceport is getting back to normality. Two much delayed satellites could launch as soon as May 4th (on Arianespace Flight 236).

Arianespace said at the end of last week that it needed about 10 days to get the launch operation back into gear, and a May 4th launch for Brazil’s SGDC-1 and its co-passenger Koreasat-7 would fit into that timetable.

Brazil’s satellite is SGDC (Geostationary Satellite for Communications and Defence) is the first satellite for the operator Telebras to be launched by Arianespace, performed within the scope of a contract with SGDC prime contractor VISIONA Tecnologia Espacial S.A. The commercial portion of the satellite will help improve internet communications to 100 per cent of Brazil. It will be placed at 75 degrees West.

Korea-7 is the third Koreasat satellite to be launched by Arianespace for ktsat, following Koreasat-3 and Koreasat-6, launched in September 1999 and December 2010, respectively. ktsat, a wholly-owned subsidiary of KT Corp. – the largest telecom/media service provider in South Korea – is the country’s sole satellite service provider. Since the establishment of the Kumsan Satellite Center (Teleport) in 1970, ktsat has been the national leader in telecommunications and broadcasting services. It currently operates three satellites.

Koreasat-7 will provide a full range of video and data applications, including Internet access, DTH broadcasting , government communications and connectivity for VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) networks.  It will be positioned at 116 degrees East.

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