Arianespace’s Ariane 5 launch vehicle lifts off from Kourou in French Guiana carrying the Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1, and the GSAT 7 satellites.
Image credit: ESA-CNES-Arianespace/Optique Vidéo du CSG – G Barbaste

[Via Satellite 08-30-13] Arianespace completed its fourth Ariane 5 launch in 2013, making it the vehicle’s 57th successful launch in a row. The launcher carried two telecommunications satellites to orbit: the Eutelsat Communications and Es’hailSat jointly owned Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1, and the GSAT 7 for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

Eutelsat and Es’hailSat announced that their 6.3-ton satellite Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1’s solar panels were deployed within four hours of separation from the launch vehicle and preparations are underway for the first of four firings of its apogee motor to complete its journey into orbit. The two companies expect to bring their jointly owned satellite into service at 25.5 degrees east by the end of October.

Based on the SSL 1300 platform of Space Systems/Loral, Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1 is a joint program between Eutelsat and Es’hailSat, and it’s the first geostationary telecommunications satellite launched for Qatar. The spacecraft is designed to serve broadcasters, businesses and public agencies in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia via capacity in the Ku- and Ka-bands. It will replace the Eutelsat 25C satellite at the key 25.5 degrees east position to provide both superior geographic coverage and increased capacity to address dynamically expanding digital markets. Following Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1’s entry into service, Eutelsat will redeploy its Eutelsat 25C to another location where it will pursue commercial service.

The GSAT 7 is the 17th ISRO satellite launched by Arianespace. The spacecraft weighed 2.6 tons at launch and was designed, developed and integrated by ISRO in Bangalore, southern India. The GSAT 7 will be dedicated to provide telecommunications services for the Indian government through Ku, C, S and UHF band transponders. It will be positioned at 74 degrees east with a coverage zone that encompasses the entire Indian subcontinent.