ARIANESPACE FLIGHT - INTELSAT 17 and HYLAS 1

ARIANESPACE labeled logo.

November 26, 2010

On Friday, November 26, Arianespace orbited two communications satellites: INTELSAT 17 for the international satellite operator Intelsat, and HYLAS 1 for the European operator Avanti Communications.

Ariane 5 V198, with Hylas-1 and Intelsat 17 aboard, in place at the Launch Zone (ZL-3) of Ariane Launch Complex no.3 (ELA-3) at the Guiana Space Centre

54th Ariane 5 launch, 40th success in a row

This latest successful Ariane 5 launch, the fifth 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.

Liftoff of V198, the 54th Ariane 5 flight

The 54th launch of an Ariane 5, and 40th 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.

With the launch this evening, Arianespace has now orbited ten commercial geostationary communications satellites out of the total of 17 launched since the beginning of the year, giving it over 60% of the market.

Supporting space communications

Arianespace and Intelsat have built up a long-standing relationship based on mutual trust, reaching back some 27 years. Since 1983, Arianespace has launched 51 satellites for Intelsat.

HYLAS 1 is Avanti Communications’ first satellite. A new European satellite operator, Avanti Communications also chose Arianespace to orbit its HYLAS 2 satellite, scheduled for launch in the first half of 2012.

“ESA’s cooperation with Avanti Communications on Hylas-1 is a prime example of a public–private partnership, a creative fast-track for demonstrating and reaping the benefits of satellite high technology as part of an operational mission,” commented Magali Vaissiere, ESA Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications.

This is a new way of working that ESA will pursue in telecoms. Within the next 24 months, two similar initiatives in partnership with satellite operators Inmarsat and Hispasat will foster the development of state-of-the-art technologies to serve the new needs of the worldwide market and Europe’s citizens.

To learn more about ESA and Hylas, go to: http://www.esa.int/hylas

ESA related link: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMKHSNWXGG_index_0.html

Images, Videos, Text, Credits: 2010 ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Photo Optique vidéo du CSG.

Greetings, Orbiter.ch