Arianespace Confirms Summer Launch Dates for VS17 and VA237

Artist’s rendition of Eutelsat 172B

Arianespace has announced the dates for its next two missions, VS17 and VA237. For VS17, a Soyuz launcher will orbit SES’ SES 15 satellite on May 18, and for VA237, an Ariane 5 ECA launcher will orbit ViaSat’s ViaSat 2 and Eutelsat’s E172B on June 1.

SES 15 will orbit at 129 degrees west to serve North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. According to SES, the satellite will enable the company to serve its aeronautical customers and serve other traffic-intensive data applications such as government, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) networks and maritime, with a combination of wide beams and high-throughput multi-spot beams.

ViaSat 2 will provide broadband services from an orbital slot at 69.9 degrees west, as part of a larger system ViaSat expects will improve speeds, reduce costs and expand its footprint across North America, Central America, the Caribbean and a portion of northern South America, as well as the primary aeronautical and maritime routes across the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe.

ViaSat 2 expected to enter service in early 2018, and according to ViaSat will double the bandwidth of ViaSat 1 and provide seven times the broadband coverage.

Eutelsat’s E172B will fly at 172 degrees east and will expand capacity for satellite services in Asia-Pacific. Panasonic Avionics has selected the Eutelsat 172B satellite as its platform for trans-Pacific and Asian in-flight broadband and live TV services for commercial airlines.

Arianespace’s next launch is VA236, set for May 4. The company also re-confirmed its commitment to carry out 12 launches in 2017.