Arianespace is undertaking payload integration of two satellites ahead of a planned launch from Kourou during the afternoon hours of August 6th subject to the usual weather conditions.

The two satellites are Intelsat 39 and Europe’s EDRS-C (European Data Relay Satellite C) which also carries a small additional Ka-band payload for London’s Avanti Communications.

Recent activity at the Spaceport included initial steps in creating the dual-payload configuration, with Intelsat 39 riding in the upper position. This involved installing the relay platform atop Ariane 5’s SYLDA dispenser system inside the launcher’s Final Assembly Building.

Intelsat 39 – which was produced by Maxar Technologies – was then encapsulated by Ariane 5’s protective fairing, completing the payload configuration’s upper portion and readying it for positioning over EDRS-C once this spacecraft is installed atop the launcher.

Following Ariane 5’s lift-off during the afternoon hours of August 6, Intelsat 39 will be released first into geostationary transfer orbit, to be followed by the separation of the SYLDA intermediate separator – enabling EDRS-C’s subsequent deployment to geostationary transfer orbit.

Categories: Articles, DTH/Satellite