Lifting off on time at 5:00 p.m. from the Spaceport in French Guiana, the Ariane 5 deployed the two television broadcast satellites during a mission lasting 31 minutes. It was the 48th flight of an Ariane 5 and its 34th success in a row.

"This latest success confirms that Ariane 5 is the commercial market's only operational launcher capable of simultaneously launching two large direct television broadcast satellites," said Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall.

"It also confirms that Arianespace is the only launch services company capable of orbiting four commercial satellites in four weeks - which I also think is a new record."

Ariane 5's payload lift performance for the daytime flight was a total of 9,515 kg., which included a combined total of approximately 8,700 kg. for the NSS-12 and THOR 6 spacecraft, plus the launch vehicle's dual-passenger dispenser system and satellite integration hardware.

The launcher provided another accurate delivery, with the following provisional parameters at the injection of Ariane 5's cryogenic upper stage: - Perigee: 250.1 km. for a target of 249.8 km. - Apogee 35,961 km. for a target of 35,947 km. - Inclination: 5.98 deg. for a target of 6.00 deg.

This mission with NSS-12 continues Arianespace's 25-year relationship of uninterrupted cooperation with the SES Group of companies, which was initiated in 1984 with the launch of Spacenet 1 on the inaugural commercial Ariane mission performed by Arianespace.

The NSS-12 satellite was released first during today's launch, being deployed at 26 minutes into the flight. With a liftoff weight of approximately 5,620 kg., this spacecraft carries 40 C-band and 48 Ku-band transponders to provide telecommunications and direct-to-home television broadcast services for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.

It will be operated by SES WORLD SKIES from a geostationary orbit location of 57 deg. East, and is the second satellite launched by Arianespace this year for the SES group - following NSS-9, which was orbited by Ariane 5 in February.

NSS-12 was produced by Space Systems/Loral and is the 35th platform from this U.S.-based satellite manufacturer that Arianespace has launched.

THOR 6 was carried in the lower passenger position of Ariane 5's payload "stack," and it separated from the launcher at 31 minutes into the flight. Built in Europe by Thales Alenia Space, the 3,050-kg. satellite is fitted with 36 Ku-band transponders and will deliver high-power, direct-to-home television services from an orbital location of 1 deg. West.

When in service for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, the capacity provided by THOR 6 will respond to the growing broadcast demands within Central and Eastern Europe and also provide additional capacity in the Nordic region.

"Congratulations to Arianespace. We have worked together now for two years to achieve this launch, and you continue to deliver, time after time," commented Cato Halsaa, the Vice President and CEO of Telenor Satellite Broadcasting. "As this is your 34th consecutive successful launch, you must be very proud - and we are very proud to be part of your team here."

Today's launch continues the Ariane 5's sustained mission pace and keeps the company on track for a total of seven missions planned this year. With the six flights already performed since February, the workhorse launcher has placed approximately 42,670 kg. in orbit.

The previous missions of 2009 were performed on October 1 with the Amazonas 2 and COMSATBw-1 satellites; on August 21 with JCSAT-12 and Optus D3; on July 1 with TerreStar-1; on May 14 with Herschel and Planck; and on February 12 with the HOT BIRDT 10 and NSS-9 satellites, along with two Spirale auxiliary passengers.

Arianespace's next mission is planned for early December with the Helios 2B French military reconnaissance satellite, marking Ariane 5's final flight of this year.

"We set the goal of increasing our launch rate, and are on track to meet this challenge," concluded Arianespace Chairman and CEO Le Gall. "Whenever one takes up a challenge, there are doubters. Arianespace will be pleased to win over these doubters by demonstrating that we can deliver, and that we made the right choice."

related report
SES WORLD SKIES' NSS-12 SATELLITE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED Kourou, French Guiana SES WORLD SKIES has announced that the NSS-12 satellite successfully roared into space on-board an Ariane 5 ECA booster from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on October 29 at 5:00 p.m. local time (8:00 p.m. GMT).

Approximately 27 minutes after lift-off the spacecraft separated from the Ariane 5 upper stage and was placed into geostationary transfer orbit. Initial signals from NSS-12 were received at a control station in Uralla, Australia at 8:32 p.m. GMT.

NSS-12 was manufactured by Space Systems/Loral, with launch services on-board Ariane 5 provided by Arianespace. The spacecraft, procured by SES Satellite Leasing Limited in the Isle of Man, is poised to be the 41th satellite in SES' global fleet.

Rob Bednarek, President and CEO of SES WORLD SKIES, stated: "The flawless launch of NSS-12 allows us to ensure seamless continuity for a variety of customers at the key orbital position of 57 degrees East and considerably increases our capacity on-orbit. Our thanks for a mission well accomplished go to the skilled engineering and operations teams of Arianespace, Space Systems/Loral and SES ENGINEERING. After NSS-9 in February, this is the second successful Ariane 5 launch of an SES satellite in 2009."

"NSS-12 will be the 59thSpace Systems/Loral satellite now orbiting the earth," said John Celli, President and Chief Operating Officer of Space Systems/Loral.

"Congratulations to SES WORLD SKIES and Arianespace for another flawless launch. Every completed satellite and successful launch is an exciting achievement and a testament to our companies' ability to collaborate as a team."

Immediately following the successful launch of NSS-12, Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, said: "Arianespace is especially proud of carrying out this 32nd successful launch for the SES group, one of the world's leading satellite operators. Since the launch of their first satellite in 1988, we have developed an exceptional relationship with SES, by offering services and solutions custom-tailored to their needs. I would like to personally thank SES for their long-standing confidence, and for having once again chosen Arianespace, the global benchmark in satellite launch services."

NSS-12
The powerful, state-of-the-art NSS-12 satellite will provide comprehensive and robust coverage of some of the world's fastest-growing markets. The spacecraft replaces NSS-703 at 57 degrees East and covers virtually the entire Eastern Hemisphere, bringing increased capacity and transmission power to a key orbital location at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.

NSS-12 features 40 C-band transponders and 48 Ku-band transponders with DTH power levels, as well as elaborate beam interconnectivity and C-/Ku-band cross-strapping. The spacecraft will deliver DTH power and performance through four regional Ku-band spot beams over the Middle East and Europe, Central and South Asia and, for the first time, East Africa.

The satellite's high-capacity, high-power C-band hemispheric beams - one covering Europe, Africa (including Mauritius) and the Middle East, and the other stretching across Asia to Australia - have been augmented by a powerful C-band global beam spanning from the UK to the Far East. The satellite reaches an estimated two-thirds of the world's population.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us	Digg	Reddit
YahooMyWeb	Google	Facebook

Related Links
Arianespace
SES WORLD SKIES
Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News