ArianeSpace has launched telecommunications satellites for Embratel and Eutelsat into orbit.
The company’s Ariane 5 rocket launched from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in French Guiana last week.
Two telecommunications satellites were released into orbit; Star One D2, built by Maxar Technologies for Brazilian operator Embratel, and EUTELSAT QUANTUM for Eutelsat, developed with Airbus Defence and Space and the European Space Agency (ESA).
“With this new Ariane 5 success, the first in 2021, Arianespace is pleased to be continuing its service to two of its most loyal customers, operators Embratel and Eutelsat,” said Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace. “This mission with two highly innovative satellites on board, has reconfirmed how the competitiveness and reliability of our launch solutions serves the ambitions of our customers.”
Star One D2, Built on Maxar’s 1300-class platform with Ku-, Ka-, C- and X-band transponders, will expand broadband coverage in Central and South America. With a power of 19.3 KW and weighing 7 tons, the new system joins Embratel's fleet of five geostationary satellites - Star One D1, C1, C2, C3, and C4.
“We are very happy with the successful launch of Star One D2, the largest satellite we have ever built and which will further strengthen our market leadership, providing more resources for telecommunications in Brazil and Latin America”, says José Félix, president of Claro in Brazil.
“With this new Ariane 5 success, the first in 2021, Arianespace is pleased to be continuing its service to two of its most loyal customers, operators Embratel and Eutelsat,” said Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace. “This mission with two highly innovative satellites on board, has reconfirmed how the competitiveness and reliability of our launch solutions serves the ambitions of our customers.”
Star One D2, Built on Maxar’s 1300-class platform with Ku-, Ka-, C- and X-band transponders, will expand broadband coverage in Central and South America. With a power of 19.3 KW and weighing 7 tons, the new system joins Embratel's fleet of five geostationary satellites - Star One D1, C1, C2, C3, and C4.
“We are very happy with the successful launch of Star One D2, the largest satellite we have ever built and which will further strengthen our market leadership, providing more resources for telecommunications in Brazil and Latin America”, says José Félix, president of Claro in Brazil.
Maxar has also been commissioned to manufacture a new geostationary communications satellite for SiriusXM. The SXM-9 satellite, based on Maxar 1300-class platform, will come into operation in 2024 and replace SXM-7, which was declared a total loss following a payload anomaly arising a month after its launch. The SXM-8 satellite completed in-orbit testing and has been handed over to SiriusXM last month.
This week China’s space agency unexpectedly launched two satellites from its Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The two payloads, called KL-Beta-A and KL-Beta-B, were built by the Shanghai Institute for Microsatellite Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and are operated by the German-Chinese company KLEO-connect. The two satellites are reportedly prototypes of LEO communications satellites ahead of Kleo’s planned constellation to provide Internet of Things services.
State-owned China Satcom also saw a communications satellite - Zhongxing-2E - launched into orbit this week from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The satellite, also known as ChinaSat-2E, will provide television, radio, broadband multimedia, and other transmission services.
Source: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/arianespace-launches-two-telecoms-satellites-into-orbit/