ARIANESPACE - Ariane 5 ECA / Flight VA236 Mission poster.
May 4, 2017
Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA Launch SGDC & Koreasat 7 (Illustration)
Arianespace has successfully launched two telecommunications satellites: SGDC for Visiona Tecnologia Espacial S.A, on behalf of the Brazilian operator Telebras S.A. and the Brazilian government; and KOREASAT-7 for South Korean operator ktsat.
Liftoff of Arianespace’s Ariane 5 with SGDC and KOREASAT-7
The launch took place on Tuesday, May 4 at 6:50 pm (local time, 20:50 UTC) from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Image above: Ariane 5 moves into position at the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone. Flight VA236. SGDC and KOREASAT-7.
For its fourth launch of the year, and the second Ariane 5 mission in 2017 from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, Arianespace will orbit two satellites: SGDC for VISIONA Tecnologia Espacial S.A. on behalf of the Brazilian operator Telebras S.A., and KOREASAT-7 for ktsat of South Korea.
Image above: SGDC (Geostationary Satellite for Communications and Defense) is the first satellite for the operator Telebras S.A.
SGDC (Geostationary Satellite for Communications and Defense) is the first satellite for the operator Telebras S.A. to be launched by Arianespace, performed within the scope of a contract with SGDC prime contractor VISIONA Tecnologia Espacial S.A.
This Brazilian government program has three main objectives:
- Reduce Brazil’s digital divide by providing high-quality Internet services to 100% of the country territory as part of the National Broadband Plan
- Provide sovereign and secure means for the Brazilian Government and Defense strategic communications
- Acquire critical technologies for the Brazilian space industry, enabling the industry to take increasingly important roles in the future Brazilian space programs.
KOREASAT-7 satellite
KOREASAT-7 is the third KOREASAT satellite to be launched by Arianespace for ktsat, following KOREASAT-3 and KOREASAT-6, launched in September 1999 and December 2010, respectively.
ktsat, a wholly-owned subsidiary of KT Corp. – the largest telecom/media service provider in South Korea – is the country’s sole satellite service provider. Since the establishment of the Kumsan Satellite Center (Teleport) in 1970, ktsat has been the national leader in telecommunications and broadcasting services. It currently operates three satellites.
KOREASAT-7 will provide a full range of video and data applications, including Internet access, direct-to-home broadcasting (DTH), government communications and connectivity for VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) networks.
SGDC and KOREASAT-7 are the 555th and 556th satellites to be launched by Arianespace.
This will be the 287th mission by the Arianespace family of launchers, and the seventh all-Thales Alenia Space mission, as both satellites were built by this manufacturer.
For more information about ARIANESPACE, visit: http://www.arianespace.com/
Images, Video, Text, Credits: ARIANESPACE/VISIONA Tecnologia Espacial S.A./KT Corp.
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