On Wednesday, December 29, Arianespace orbited two communications satellites: Hispasat 1E for the Spanish operator Hispasat, and Koreasat 6 for the KT Corporation.
This latest successful Ariane 5 launch, the sixth in 2010, once again proves the launcher's operational capabilities. Ariane 5 is the only commercial satellite launcher now on the market capable of simultaneously launching two payloads and handling a complete range of missions, from commercial launches into geostationary orbit to scientific satellites boosted into special orbits. The 55th launch of an Ariane 5, and 41st successful mission in a row, clearly demonstrate the launcher's reliability and availability. Arianespace's launch Service & Solutions continue to set the global standard and guarantee independent access to space for all customers, including national and international space agencies, private firms and governments.
An Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket with a cryogenic upper stage is scheduled to launch the Hispasat 1E and Koreasat 6 communications satellites from the Kourou launch site, French Guiana, at 21:26 GMT, 28th December, 2010. The launch window extends from 21:26 to -22:15 GMT.
Korean Telecom Corporation (KT Corporation) has chosen Arianespace to launch its next communications satellite, Koreasat 6. Koreasat 6 will be boosted into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 or Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Center, Europes Spaceport, French Guiana, during the second half of 2010. Koreasat 6 is the second satellite to be launched by Arianespace for the Korean operator, following Koreasat 3, orbited in 1999. Arianespace has another Korean satellite on its launch manifest, COMS-1, a multimission satellite for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). Koreasat 6 will be built by Thales Alenia Space using a Star-2 platform from Orbital Sciences Corporation of the United States. Weighing about 2,750 kg at launch, it will be fitted with 30 Ku-band transponders. The Koreasat 6 satellite will provide telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout the country, from its orbital position at 116° East. It will have a design life exceeding 15 years.
Thales Alenia Space announced today that it has signed a contract with Korea Telecom (KT) to provide their next telecommunication satellite, Koreasat 6. For this contract, Thales Alenia Space teamed with U.S manufacturer, Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital) who will provide satellite platform. As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space will have overall responsibility for design, manufacturing and test of the Koreasat 6 satellite and Ground Segment, as well as Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP), In-Orbit Test (IOT) support and associated services. Thales Alenia Space will procure Orbital's small sized GEO platform, STAR-2, and will manufacture the communications payload.