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Ariane 5 deploys two telecom satellites in orbit despite telemetry loss

January 27, 2018 13:57·
Ariane 5 conducts SES-14 and Al Yah-3 launch – waiting for success confirmation

Ariane 5 conducts SES-14 and Al Yah-3 launch – waiting for success confirmation

The launch, designated VA241 by Arianespace, was conducted by an Ariane 5 space launch vehicle from the Kourou space launch centre in French Guiana, located in Latin America.

Although, famously, the Ariane 5 failed on its very first outing in 1996, it has since set a benchmark for reliability in the launcher business.

The Ariane 5 rocket lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana carrying Luxembourg-based satellite operator's SES-14 and Al Yah 3 communications satellites, along with NASA's $53 million GOLD instrument created to study the Earth's upper atmosphere and space weather.

Yahsat has yet to speak publicly about the status of its spacecraft, Al Yah-3, other than to repeat Arianespace's statement. Its next launch will take place in mid-March, orbiting Superbird B3/DSN 1 for Sky Perfect JSAT and the Hylas 4 High Throughput Satellite (HTS) for Avanti. Though the European Ariane 5 rocket lifted off on time, none of the customers with satellites on the rocket have contact with their satellites. Ground teams first discovered the issue when a tracking station in Natal, Brazil, didn't receive telemetry from the rocket.

Just how far off those orbits became clear publicly later on Thursday, when data about them started appearing in satellite trackers.

Shortly afterwards, the company released an updated statement that said the satellites were "communicating with their respective control centers" and that they were orbiting. "Both missions are continuing".

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SES-14 and Al Yah 3 were separated from the launcher on a stable orbit. Luxembourg-based SES said that SES-14 will take an additional four weeks to reach its orbital position over the Americas. Arianespace needs more time to determine what happened. The $53 million GOLD instrument will study the ionosphere and thermosphere layers in the upper atmosphere, where influences from solar activity and Earth-based weather systems combine to affect communications and navigation around the world.

Orbital ATK manufactured Al Yah 3, a hybrid electric propulsion Ka-band satellite that will expand Yahsat's broadband coverage to new markets in Africa and Brazil from 20 degrees west. SES says it's meant to last for 15 years.

The platform, built by Orbital ATK in the USA, carries a chemical propulsion system.

Thursday night's launch was the first of seven Ariane 5 missions planned by Arianespace this year.

Arianespace said it has formed an independent commission in conjunction with the European Space Agency to investigate the anomaly.

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