ILS and Arianespace Complete Successful Launches
2017-05-15
Both International Launch Services (ILS) and Arianespace completed successful launches May 20.
Arianespace successfully launched ST-2 for ST-2 Satellite Ventures, a joint venture of SingTel and Chunghwa Telecom, and GSAT-8 for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The launch is Arianespace’s third successful Ariane 5 launch this year.
The ST-2 satellite will provide IP-based fixed and mobile, voice and data transmission satellite services to businesses, especially direct broadcast TV operators and maritime companies in Asia and the Middle East. It has a design life of 15 years. The GSAT-8 satellite is fitted with 24 Ku-band transponders, and will mainly provide DTH and radio-navigation services. Its coverage zone includes the entire Indian subcontinent.
Also on May 20, ILS successfully launched Telesat’s Telstar 14R/Estrela do Sul 2 into orbit on an ILS Proton from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Telesat’s Telstar 14R/Estrela do Sul 2 satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) on the SS/L 1300 platform and replaces Telstar 14/Estrela do Sul at the orbital location of 63 degrees West.
