Arianespace Announces New Launch Date for VA236

Koreasat 7 secured atop Ariane 5 core section. Photo: Arianespace.

Arianespace has resumed operations for its upcoming three launches: VA236 and VA237 with Ariane 5, and VS17 with Soyuz, after a halt in operations due to labor protests in French Guiana. The new launch date for VA236 is set for May 4, as early as possible within the launch window of 4:31 to 7:19 p.m. EDT. Arianespace has yet to announce new confirmed dates for VA237 and VS17.

VA236 will use an Ariane 5 ECA to orbit two satellites manufactured by Thales Alenia Space: SGDC for the company Visiona Tecnologia Espacial on behalf of the Brazilian operator Telebras, which will be positioned at 75 degrees west, and Koreasat 7 for the South Korean operator KTsat, which will operate at 116 degrees east. This launch marks Arianespace’s fourth for the year and the second heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission.

Roiling protests in French Guiana’s capital prevented the launch from progressing on schedule, originally set for March 20. France has since put together a $2.39 billion emergency relief package for the overseas territory, and the makeshift roadblocks hindering travel to the Korou Space Center have been removed.