The DIRECTV-14 spacecraft – which was built by SSL (Space Systems/Loral) for operator DIRECTV – was transported by a chartered An-124 cargo jetliner that landed at Félix Eboué International Airport near the capital city of Cayenne, then unloaded for its transfer by road to the Spaceport.

Based on SSL’s 1300-series platform, this high-capacity satellite is to strengthen DIRECTV’s direct-to-home (DTH) digital entertainment services across the United States and Puerto Rico.

In parallel activity, the mission’s Ariane 5 is coming together as initial build-up procedures involving this workhorse vehicle are performed in French Guiana.

Located inside the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building, the Ariane 5 began taking shape during a multi-step process with positioning of the vehicle’s cryogenic core stage over its mobile launch table, followed by integration of the two solid propellant boosters.

The mission is designated Flight VA221 in Arianespace’s numbering system, on which DIRECT-14 will be joined by its co-passenger: the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) GSAT-16 telecommunications satellite. 

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The spacecraft's commercial payload includes transponders in Ku and C-band. GSAT-16 is aimed at further augmenting communication services in the country, it said.

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DIRECTV-14 is fueled for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 launch

DIRECTV-14 receives its propellant load inside the S5A fueling and integration hall of the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility.

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The Indian GSAT-16 telecommunications satellite for Arianespace’s next heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission is undergoing a detailed checkout at the Spaceport in French Guiana ahead of its scheduled liftoff on December 4.

GSAT-16 was designed, assembled and integrated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and validations performed in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility include its initial fit-check with launch vehicle hardware, as well as solar panel deployment.

The latter step involved the extension of GSAT-16’s multi-segment solar panels, validating the proper operation before they are definitively stowed against the satellite in the final liftoff configuration. This particular test uses an overhead latticework that helps support the solar panel's weight – simulating zero gravity conditions of space as the panel opens to its full length.

GSAT-16 will weigh approximately 3,150 kg. at liftoff, and is to deliver C- and Ku-band telecommunications services that include very small aperture terminal (VSAT) transmissions, TV broadcasting and emergency communications.

For the upcoming launch, GSAT-16 will be joined by its co-passenger: DIRECTV-14, which was built by SSL (Space Systems/Loral) for operator DIRECTV.

The December 4 flight with Ariane 5 is designated VA221 in Arianespace’s numbering system for its family of launchers, which also includes the medium-lift Soyuz and light-lift Vega. 

Arianespace’s sixth Ariane 5 for launch in 2014 is now ready to receive its two satellite passengers after the vehicle was moved to the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building in French Guiana.

The Ariane 5 rolled out from the Launcher Integration Building – where its core cryogenic stage, two solid boosters and cryogenic upper stage were mated by industrial architect Airbus Defence and Space – to the Final Assembly Building for delivery to Arianespace.

Now under Arianespace’s responsibility, the launcher is set for integration of its payloads – the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) GSAT-16; and DirecTV-14, which was built by SSL (Space Systems/Loral) for operator DirecTV.

This activity will be followed by the final verifications and subsequent transfer to the ELA-3 launch zone in advance of the scheduled December 4 liftoff.

This upcoming heavy-lift flight is designated VA221 in Arianespace’s numbering system, signifying the 221st flight of an Ariane family vehicle since 1979.

DirecTV 14 is a high-capacity spacecraft that will use Ka-band and the new “Reverse” DBS band to expand HD and other new consumer services. This satellite will be the sixth SSL-built satellite in DirecTV’s fleet based on the 1300 satellite platform.

This satellite will provide service for users across the US (including Hawaii and Alaska) and Puerto Rico.

Quelle: BTN

The upper passenger for Arianespace’s dual-satellite launch from French Guiana next week has been encapsulated in its protective payload fairing, preparing the DIRECTV-14 relay platform for its integration on Ariane 5.

During activity in the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building for Ariane 5, DIRECTV-14 was mounted on the launcher’s SYLDA dispenser unit, followed by the lowering of a large ogive-shaped payload fairing over the combined unit – creating the mission’s “upper composite” section.

With this step completed, the upper composite is now ready to be integrated on the launcher by its positioning atop the mission’s other passenger, India’s GSAT-16 satellite, which is to be integrated on Ariane 5’s core cryogenic stage.

DIRECTV-14 is the larger of Ariane 5’s two passengers on the December 4 mission, and will serve as a 20-kilowatt class Ka-band and reverse-band digital broadcast satellite to deliver Ultra HD and other new consumer services for DIRECTV. Based on the SSL (Space Systems/Loral) 1300 spacecraft platform with a liftoff mass of approximately 6,300 kg., it is to provide service for users across the U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska) and Puerto Rico.

The GSAT-16 satellite that also will be launched on the upcoming Ariane 5 mission was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and carries Ku- and C-band transponders to further augment communication services across India. GSAT-16’s liftoff mass is estimated at 3,180 kg.

Arianespace’s December 4 launch is designed Flight VA221 in the company’s launcher family numbering system, signifying the 221st liftoff of an Ariane family vehicle from the Spaceport. 

 

The Ariane 5 nears completion of its transfer from the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building – where this heavy-lift vehicle received its DIRECTV-14 and GSAT-16 payloads – to the ELA-3 launch zone.

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Ariane 5 is now at the ELA-3 launch complex for its December 4 mission in service of two long-standing Arianespace customers: DIRECTV and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

During activity at the Spaceport today, the workhorse heavy-lift vehicle – with its DIRECTV-14 and GSAT-16 dual-passenger payload – was transferred atop its mobile launch table from the Final Assembly Building to the dedicated Ariane 5 launch zone.

Designated Flight VA221 in the company’s numbering system, Arianespace’s sixth heavy-lift mission of the year is scheduled to lift off tomorrow during a 1-hr., 10-min. launch window that opens at 5:38 p.m. local time in French Guiana.

As the seventh satellite to be lofted by Arianespace with a DIRECTV payload, DIRECTV-14 is the mission’s upper passenger and will be released first in the flight sequence at nearly 28 minutes after liftoff. Built by SSL (Space Systems/Loral), DIRECTV-14 is a 20-kilowatt class Ka-band and reverse-band digital broadcast satellite that will deliver Ultra HD and other new consumer services for DIRECTV.

GSAT-16 – which is installed in the vehicle’s lower position – will be the 18th satellite launched by Arianespace for ISRO and is to be separated at just over 32 minutes after liftoff to complete Ariane 5’s mission. Carrying Ku- and C-band transponders to further augment communication services across India, the GSAT-16 spacecraft was developed by the country’s ISRO space agency.

Quelle: arianespace

 

After being deferred twice,India's latest communication satellite GSAT-16 will be launched tomorrow from the space port of Kourou, French Guiana, Indian Space Research Organisation said.

"GSAT-16 launch is rescheduled on early morning of Dec 07 at 02:10 hrs (IST) from French Guiana," ISRO said on its website.

Hit by inclement weather, the launch of GSAT-16 was deferred for the second time yesterday after it was rescheduled to be put into space in the early hours today by Ariane 5 rocket.

The satellite launch was originally scheduled for Friday but was put off. ISRO had rescheduled it for today at 02.09 AM (IST) but within hours it was postponed again, citing the inclement weather at the launch base.

Ariane 5 VA221 is to place in orbit GSAT-16 which is designed to augment the national space capacity in communication services, along with DIRECTV-14, built by SSL (Space Systems/Loral) for operator DIRECTV to provide direct-to-home television broadcasts across the US.

The capacity crunch has forced ISRO to lease 95 transponders on foreign satellites mainly for private TV broadcasters' use.

GSAT-16, with a designated on orbit operational life of 12 years, will boost public and private TV and radio services, large-scale Internet and telephone operations.

GSAT-16 will replace INSAT-3E, decommissioned prematurely in April. It will be the 18th satellite to be launched by Arianespace for ISRO.

Quelle: Deccan Herald

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