Arabsat-5A
Communications satellite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arabsat-5A is a Saudi Arabian communications satellite operated by Arabsat. It will be used to provide television, internet and telephone services to Arabia, Africa and Europe.[3]
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | Arabsat |
| COSPAR ID | 2010-032B |
| SATCAT no. | 36745 |
| Website | arabsat.com/pages/Arabsat5A.aspx |
| Mission duration | 15 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Eurostar-3000 |
| Manufacturer | Astrium |
| Launch mass | 4,800 kilograms (10,600 lb) |
| Power | 11-12 kilowatts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 26 June 2010, 21:41 UTC[1] |
| Rocket | Ariane 5ECA |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 30.5° East |
| Perigee altitude | 35,779 kilometres (22,232 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 35,807 kilometres (22,249 mi) |
| Inclination | 0.05 degrees |
| Period | 23.93 hours |
| Epoch | 24 December 2013, 06:06:12 UTC[2] |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 16 G/H band (IEEE C band) 24 J band (IEEE Ku band) |
History
Arabsat-5A was constructed by Astrium, and is based on the Eurostar-3000 satellite bus. It has a mass of 4,800 kilograms (10,600 lb), and carries forty transponders; sixteen broadcasting in the G/H band of the NATO-defined spectrum, or the C band of the IEEE-defined spectrum, and twenty four operating in the NATO J band or the IEEE Ku band.[4] Its solar arrays are expected to generate around 12 kilowatts of power at the beginning of the satellite's design life, and around 11 kilowatts at the end of it.[5]
Arabsat-5A was launched by Arianespace using an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket lifting off from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The first attempt to launch it occurred on 23 June 2010, however the launch was scrubbed due to a problem with one of the rocket's subsystems.[6] A subsequent attempt on 24 June was also scrubbed, due to a problem with the pressurisation of the rocket's fuel tanks.[7] The launch occurred at 21:41 UTC on 26 June 2010.[7][8] The South Korean COMS-1 satellite was launched by the same rocket, with a SYLDA adaptor being used to separate the spacecraft. Arabsat-5A was mounted atop the SYLDA, with COMS-1 underneath it.[9]
Following launch, Arabsat-5A separated into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It then use an apogee motor to raise itself into geostationary orbit. Once it reached geostationary orbit, it underwent testing before beginning operations at a longitude of 30.5 degrees East, where it replaced Arabsat-2B.[4] It is expected to operate for fifteen years.[10]
