Ariane launches two communications satellites
Posted: Sun, Dec 7, 2014, 11:26 AM ET (1626 GMT)
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.
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.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, September 13
SpaceX, Northrop Grumman to launch supplies to ISS
Spectrum News — 5:52 am ET (0952 GMT) Cornell-led space tech startup acquired by Pasteur Labs
Cornell Univ. — 5:51 am ET (0951 GMT) How China Is Transforming Space Power
The Diplomat — 5:46 am ET (0946 GMT) Two billionaires have very different — and equally wild — visions of a future in space. Is either possible?
CNN — 5:43 am ET (0943 GMT) Rare photos show 'deeply personal' moments in space
BBC — 5:36 am ET (0936 GMT) |
