Ariane 5 launches massive communications satellite
Posted: Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 2:57 AM ET (0657 GMT)
An Ariane 5 rocket launched the heaviest commercial communications satellite on Wednesday. The Ariane 5 ECA lifted off at 1:52 pm EDT (1752 GMT) Wednesday after a 99-minute delay caused by weather and placed the TerreStar-1 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit 26 minutes later. The satellite, the sole payload carried by the rocket, weighed 6,910 kilograms at launch, making it the heaviest commercial communications satellite ever launched. The Space Systems/Loral-built satellite will be used by TerreStar Networks at 111 degrees west in GEO to provide mobile communications services across North America at S-band wavelengths, integrated with terrestrial wireless networks.
An Ariane 5 rocket launched the heaviest commercial communications satellite on Wednesday. The Ariane 5 ECA lifted off at 1:52 pm EDT (1752 GMT) Wednesday after a 99-minute delay caused by weather and placed the TerreStar-1 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit 26 minutes later. The satellite, the sole payload carried by the rocket, weighed 6,910 kilograms at launch, making it the heaviest commercial communications satellite ever launched. The Space Systems/Loral-built satellite will be used by TerreStar Networks at 111 degrees west in GEO to provide mobile communications services across North America at S-band wavelengths, integrated with terrestrial wireless networks.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, March 18
Ball Aerospace Integration of VIIRS Instrument for NPP Complete
PR Newswire — 8:27 am ET (1227 GMT) Editorial: Lobbying for space programs
Huntsville Times — 8:27 am ET (1227 GMT) U.S.-Russian duo returns to Earth from space station
AP — 8:23 am ET (1223 GMT) U.S.-Russian duo returns to Earth from space station
Reuters — 8:23 am ET (1223 GMT) Soyuz Landing Caps Milestone Space Station Mission
NASA — 8:23 am ET (1223 GMT) |