SKY Brasil 1 and Telkom 3S readied for Arianespace’s initial 2017 mission. Photo: Arianespace

[Via Satellite 01-25-2017] Two telecommunications satellites for Arianespace’s first Ariane 5 liftoff of 2017 are undergoing checkout at the Spaceport in preparation for a mid-February flight from French Guiana to geostationary transfer orbit.

Riding in the upper position of Ariane 5’s dual-payload dispenser system will be SKY Brasil 1, a satellite for operation by DIRECTV Latin America to expand the delivery of high-definition, 3-D television and cinema programming throughout Brazil.

The launch vehicle will also deploy Telkom 3S as the mission’s second passenger from its location in the launch vehicle’s lower payload position, and used in orbit by Indonesian service provider Telkom.

Both spacecraft are undergoing their preparation activity in the Spaceport’s S5 payload processing facility.