Proton launches European communications satellite
Posted: Sat, Apr 4, 2009, 10:32 AM ET (1432 GMT)
A Proton rocket successfully placed a European communications satellite into orbit late Friday. The Proton M rocket lifted off on schedule at 12:24 pm EDT (1624 GMT) and released the Eutelsat W2A satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit about nine hours later. The spacecraft, a Spacebus 4000 C4 built by Thales Alenia Space, weighed about 5,900 kilograms at liftoff and carries 47 Ku-band and 10 C-band transponders as well as an S-band payload. Eutelsat will operate the spacecraft at 10 degrees east in GEO, providing a range of communications services for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including mobile TV services in Europe using the satellite's S-band payload. The launch was the first this year for ILS.
A Proton rocket successfully placed a European communications satellite into orbit late Friday. The Proton M rocket lifted off on schedule at 12:24 pm EDT (1624 GMT) and released the Eutelsat W2A satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit about nine hours later. The spacecraft, a Spacebus 4000 C4 built by Thales Alenia Space, weighed about 5,900 kilograms at liftoff and carries 47 Ku-band and 10 C-band transponders as well as an S-band payload. Eutelsat will operate the spacecraft at 10 degrees east in GEO, providing a range of communications services for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including mobile TV services in Europe using the satellite's S-band payload. The launch was the first this year for ILS.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, October 27
Australia has to pay millions to fly an astronaut to space. What do we stand to gain?
The Conversation — 6:24 am ET (1024 GMT) Moon Explore sprinter missions
ESA — 6:24 am ET (1024 GMT) Two additional Galileo Second Generation satellites awarded to Thales Alenia Space
Thales Alenia Space — 6:24 am ET (1024 GMT) Airbus awarded contract for two additional Galileo satellites
Airbus Group — 6:23 am ET (1023 GMT) ESA procures four new Galileo Second Generation satellites
ESA — 6:23 am ET (1023 GMT) |
