The entire satellite industry breathed a sigh of relief as Arianespace successfully carried out its first Ariane 5 launch of the year, placing SES’ Astra 3B and the German military’s COMSATB2 2 into orbit.
The launch went ahead on May 25 after two months…
The entire satellite industry breathed a sigh of relief as Arianespace successfully carried out its first Ariane 5 launch of the year, placing SES’ Astra 3B and the German military’s COMSATB2 2 into orbit.
The launch went ahead on May 25 after two months of delays from its original launch date of March 26.
The mission was insured for US$700m. Its launch means that it will be a challenge for Arianespace to hit its target of seven launches this year, but does mean that six should be well within its capacity.
First Soyuz launch in Q4
Arianespace has confirmed that the first launch of the medium lift Soyuz rockets from its base in French Guiana will now take place in the fourth quarter of this year.
The launch provider has notified the British satellite operator Avanti Communications, which is due to have its HYLAS 1 satellite launched by Soyuz, that the spacecraft will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket if the Soyuz is not ready to perform the mission within the arranged September launch window.