Stellat 5 --> Atlantic Bird 3

Launch data: Designation  27460 / 02035A Launch date  05 Jul 2002 - 23:22 UT Launch site  Ko, ELA-3 Launch vehicle  Ariane-5G (V153) Mission  Commercial: Communications Geostationary orbit: Perigee / Apogee  35769 x 35805 km Eccentricity  4.27E-04 Inclination  0.04 deg Period  1436.08 min

The Stellat 5 satellite is shown with its cone-shape adapter, which will provide the installation interface with Ariane 5's Sylda 5F deployment dispenser. Stellat 5 was produced by Alcatel Space Industries, and will be used by a joint-venture company called Stellat, which brings together France Telecom with Europe*Star.

This image shows Stellat 5 mounted atop the Sylda 5F dispenser (in the background) as the Ariane 5's payload is moved into position to be lowered over the spacecraft. This action takes place inside the Ariane 5 final assembly building. The Sylda/Stellat/fairing combination will be hoisted into the building's upper level for installation atop the launcher.

Description:

• The Stellat 5 payload for Flight 153 will be used by a joint-venture company called Stellat, which brings together France Telecom with Europe*Star. Positioned at 5 deg. West longitude, Stellat 5 will support two-way broadband Internet access across much of Europe, and is to offer a connectivity matrix between Europe, the east coasts of North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and significant swaths of near Asia.
• Stellat 5 will ride in the upper payload position on Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5, and will be released into geostationary transfer orbit first. It will be followed by N-STAR c, which is to be in the lower position.
• Stellat 5 is based on a Spacebus-3000B3 platform with 35 Ku-band and 10 C-band channels. It is dedicated for broadcast and IP services across five continents with a possibility of a two-way Internet access.
• The satellite is possitioned at 5° West (hence the number 5 in the designation). Shortly after being orbited, the satellite was sold to Eutelsat and renamed Atlantic Bird 3.
• 45 transponders; Ku and C-band frequencies, Americas, Europe and Africa.

Mission details:

• Lifting from the Spaceport′s ELA-3 launch complex, the Ariane 5 deployed Stellat 5 at just under 30 minutes into the mission, followed seven minutes later by the release of N-STAR c.
• The mission began right on time at 8:21 p.m. (local Kourou time) - the opening of a 58-minute launch window. Weighing approximately 746 metric tons at engine ignition, the Ariane 5 quickly climbed into a clear French Guiana night sky. The separation of Ariane 5's two large solid booster stages at 2 min. 22 sec. into the mission were clearly visible on the Arianespace video broadcast.
• The Stellat 5 satellite was produced by Alcatel Space Industries, and will be used by the Stellat joint-venture company that brings together France Telecom with Europe*Star. Stellat 5 will be positioned at 5 deg. West, supporting Internet and video transmission services by France Telecom, as well as by Europe*Star's relay capacity over Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The satellite is equipped with 35 Ku-band and 10 C-band transponders.

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel Kourou

Headquarter cancel Paris