Tonight (9-21) a Ariane 5 ECA rocket (v.204) is set to launch ARABSAT 5C and SES-2, from ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana, South America.
Launch is set for 5:38 p.m. with a window extending to 7:02 p.m. EDT. Arabsat 5C was built by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space for satcom operator Arabsat, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Astrium supplied the Eurostar E3000 platform and handled satellite integration, while Thales Alenia Space supplied the payload. Fitted with 26 active channels in C-band and wide band transponders over 10 spots in Ka-band, Arabsat 5C will deliver supply communications services, as well as providing TV broadcast services for the Middle East and North Africa. Positioned at 20 degrees East, it offers a design life exceeding 15 years. SES-2 was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation using the Star 2.4 platform. It is fitted with 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders, and offers a design life of 15 years. Positioned at 87 degrees West, SES-2 will broadcast programming for the worlds leading TV stations through one of the largest distribution networks in the market. It will also provide VSAT services for professional customers and government agencies in North America and the Caribbean. The SES-2 satellite will also carry the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload, or CHIRP, purpose designed to meet the U.S. governments experimental requirements. Broadcast coverage: Galaxy 28 at 89.0°W (4146 V) SR: 6.111 Launch Broadcast: 5:05 - 7:55 p.m. EDT If you dont have a dish, there will be a live webcast of the launch available at: http://www.videocorner.tv/ Additional coverage at: http://spaceflightnow.com/ariane/va204/status.html http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/launches/next_launch.html http://arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/845.asp -- Dishnut-P ==================================================================== Program Director and Operator of RadioFree Dishnuts - Producer of The Dishnut News heard Saturdays at 10pm ET. on: RFD RFD Listen Links: http://dishnuts.net/ RFD Show Archives: http://gamebird.ehhh.us/archive Follow RFD on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rfdradio and Facebook: http://facebook.com/radiofree.dishnuts **In Loving Memory of Mom (Dishnut Gerry)** _______________________________________________ Medianews mailing list [email protected] http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
