Ariane-5 Successfully Launches Satellites into Orbit

Extending its successful Ariane programme, Arianespace late on Friday (Oct. 13), placed two satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). A heavy-lift Ariane-5 rocket carrying these satellites took-off from French Guiana yesterday at 5.56 p.m. (4:56 pm in Washington), putting the satellites into orbit, making its fourth mission this year and 15th success in a row.

The satellites it deployed were for clients in the United States, Australia and Japan.

After an on-time liftoff from the launch site at Kourou in French Guiana, the Ariane 5 went on to deploy DIRECTV 9S for U.S. digital TV service provider DIRECTV Inc., along with the OPTUS D1 telecommunications spacecraft for Australia's Optus. The Ariane 5 European Space Agency (ECA) launcher was also fitted with the ASAP 5 platform, enabling it to deploy the LDREX-2 (Large-scale Deployable Reflector Experiment 2) for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

DIRECTV 9S is the sixth satellite to be launched by Arianespace for DIRECTV, Inc. of US, while OPTUS D1 will be the third satellite orbited by Arianespace for the Australian operator.

Twenty-seven minutes after the lift-off, the rocket was released into a preliminary orbit the DIRECTV 9S communications satellite. Six minutes later the rocket orbited OPTUS D1 satellite for Australia's operator Optus PLC. The deployment of an experimental antenna model to be used on a future technology satellite, LDREX-2, into space followed OPTUS' separation by over 30 minutes.

The rocket launched on time from the space port in Kourou, despite a demonstration at the main entrance by striking space center employees asking for shorter working hours.

Ariane 5 is an European expendable launch system that is designed to deliver satellites into geostationary transfer orbit and to send payloads to Low Earth orbit. Operated and marketed by the Arianespace rocket launch company as a cost effective launcher for sizable satellites, the heavy-lift rocket is capable of orbiting payloads of up to 10 metric tonnes.

Built by Space Systems/Loral in Palo Alto, California, DIRECTV 9S, weighing 5.5 metric tonnes (Approx. 5,530 kg at liftoff) will be positioned at 101 degrees West. The satellite designed to broadcast high definition television to the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii, is fitted with 52 high-power Ku-band transponders and 2 Ka-band transponders.

OPTUS D1 built by American manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, Virginia, is based on STAR series of smaller-sized spacecraft. OPTUS D1 weighed 2.3 tonne (about 2,300 kg at launch) and positioned at 160 degrees East, will provide direct TV broadcasts, Internet links, voice and data services for Australia and New Zealand, with working capability for 15 years.

LDREX-2 launched on behalf of the JAXA is a small-sized partial model representing the large deployable antenna to be used on the ETS-8 technology satellite, which will be launched in December 2006.

Yesterday’s launch was Arianespace's fourth dual-satellite Ariane 5 programme this year, bringing the total payload mass delivered by the workhorse launcher so far in 2006 to more than 31,670 kg. So far, Ariane vehicles have orbited a combined total payload mass of over 600 metric tons.

With the launch, the Ariane 5 has become the only commercial launcher in service capable of simultaneously launching two primary payloads, and a scientific experiment, and giving customers the performance, flexibility and competitiveness they expect.