EchoStar-18 readies for launch
April 25, 2016
By Chris Forrester
EchoStar-18 has arrived at Arianespace’s launch site in French Guiana. It arrived at Félix Eboué Airport near Cayenne on April 21 aboard a chartered Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner, and was then moved to the launch preparation building at the spaceport.
It will now be prepared for a currently scheduled June 5 launch aboard a giant Ariane-5 rocket.
EchoStar-18 was built by Space Systems/Loral and is intended to be placed at EchoStar’s primary 110 degrees West position, and serving much of the USA as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Cuba.