Arianespace orbits Arabsat-6B and GSAT-15

Wednesday, November 11th, 2015
Arianespace logo

Arianespace orbits Arabsat-6B and GSAT-15 satellites for Arabsat and ISRO

KOUROU — Arianespace successfully launched two satellites this evening: Arabsat-6B (BADR-7) for the operator Arabsat, and GSAT-15 for ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). The company’s tenth launch of the year from the Guiana Space Center (CSG), and sixth with the Ariane 5 heavy launcher, took place on November 10 at 6:34 pm local time in Kourou, French Guiana.

Through this mission, the 69th successful launch in a row by Ariane 5, Arianespace is proud to deliver reliable, sustainable solutions to Arabsat and ISRO, two loyal customers for over 30 years.

Arianespace, a long-standing partner of Arabsat, the Arab world’s leading regional satellite operator

Arabsat is the leading regional satellite telecommunications operator in the Middle East and Africa. Arabsat-6B (BADR 7) is the ninth satellite orbited by Arianespace for this operator since the launch of Arabsat-1A in 1985. This satellite is the first of the sixth generation of satellites in the Arabsat fleet. It will provide telecommunications and direct- to-home (DTH) TV broadcast services for the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. In 2012 Arabsat also confirmed its goal of bolstering its position in the Europe-Middle East-Africa (EMEA) zone by acquiring the company Hellasat.

Arabsat-6B (BADR-7) was built jointly by Airbus Defence and Space, which provided the Eurostar E3000 platform and handled integration, and Thales Alenia Space, which supplied the payload. The satellite weighed 5,798 kg at liftoff.

It is fitted with 27 Ku-band transponders and offers multiple Ka-band spotbeams. It will be positioned at 26° East, and has a design life exceeding 15 years.

Arianespace will be launching another Arabsat satellite, Hellasat-4.

ISRO and Arianespace: a strategic partnership

GSAT-15 is the 19th satellite to be launched by Arianespace for ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). It will provide telecommunications services for the country, along with dedicated navigation-aid and emergency services. Arianespace has launched 91% of ISRO’s geostationary satellites that used non-Indian launch systems, dating back to the launch of the country’s experimental satellite APPLE on Flight L03 in 1981.

The favored relationship between Arianespace and ISRO reflects the exemplary collaboration in the space sector between France and India, a partnership that will help ISRO realize its aim of using space to foster the development of the Indian sub-continent through a full range of satellite applications, for Earth observation, telecommunications, science and navigation.