On Thursday evening, October 29, Arianespace boosted two direct-to-home (DTH) TV broadcast satellites into geostationary transfer orbit: NSS-12 for the operator SES WORLD SKIES, a subsidiary of SES, and THOR 6 for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting AS, a subsidiary of the Norwegian mobile operator, Telenor.
READ: ARIANE 5 THOR-6 NSS-12 LAUNCH KIT FREE VIDEO: WATCH: ARIANE V197 LAUNCH REPLAY WATCH: POSTLAUNCH ASCENT REPLAY ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBERS: DOWNLOAD VIDEO: ARIANE V197 LAUNCH REPLAY, 500KBPS VIDEO (600 X 450 RES.) DOWNLOAD VIDEO: POSTLAUNCH ASCENT REPLAY, 500KBPS VIDEO (600 X 450 RES.) The latest successful launch of an Ariane 5, the sixth in 2009, confirms that Arianespace's launch Service & Solutions continue to set the global standard for the world's leading space communications operators and manufacturers. "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 & 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 is the only commercial launcher in service today capable of simultaneously launching two payloads, to deliver outstanding performance, flexibility and competitiveness to all Arianespace customers. This was the 48th launch of an Ariane 5 and the 34th successful launch in a row. "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." Arianespace and SES have developed an exceptional relationship over the last two decades. NSS-12 is the 32nd satellite from the SES group of companies (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Bourse: SESG) to have opted for an Ariane launch. THOR 6 is the first satellite launched by Arianespace for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting AS, a subsidiary of the Norwegian mobile operator, Telenor. The mission was carried out by an Ariane 5 ECA launcher from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Liftoff was on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 5:00 pm local time in Kourou (4:00 pm in Washington, D.C., 20:00 UT, 9:00 pm in Paris and 11:00 pm in Moscow). 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 NSS-12 satellite was released first during today's launch, being deployed at 26 minutes into the flight. NSS-12 was built by Space Systems/Loral (SSL) using an SS/L 1300 platform, and weighed about 5,700 kg at liftoff. Fitted with 48 active Ku-band transponders and 40 C-band transponders, this powerful satellite will provide telecommunications and direct-to-home (DTH) television broadcast services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia. NSS-12 offers a design life of at least 15 years, and will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 57 degrees East. 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. THOR 6, built by Thales Alenia Space using a Spacebus 4000B2 platform, weighed about 3,000 kg at liftoff. It is equipped with 36 Ku-band transponders and will be positioned at 1 degree West, providing DTH services to the Nordic Region and throughout Central and Eastern Europe. It has a design life of about 15 years. 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 BIRD™ 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 & 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."
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