spacetoday.net: Ariane launches two communications satellites

Posted: Sun, Dec 7, 2014, 11:26 AM ET (1626 GMT)
Ariane 5 launch of DIRECTV-14 and GSAT-16 (Arianespace)

After two days of weather-related delays, an Ariane 5 successfully launched two communications satellites on Saturday. The Ariane 5 ECA lifted off at 3:40 pm EST (2040 GMT) Saturday from Kourou, French Guiana, and placed the DIRECTV-14 and GSAT-16 satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbits about a half-hour later. DIRECTV-14, built by SSL for American direct-to-home broadcaster DIRECTV, weighed 6,300 kilograms at launch. It will provide television programming at Ka-band frequencies from its position at 99 degrees west in GEO. GSAT-14, built and operated by the Indian space agency ISRO, weighed 3,180 kilograms at launch and carries a Ku- and C-band payload for communications services at 55 degrees east in GEO. The launch was the sixth Ariane 5 mission of 2014.