Arianespace delivered the Panamsat Galaxy 15 spacecraft and the French military satellite Syracuse 3A into orbit Oct. 13 via an Ariane 5G launch vehicle. The rocket lifted off from Arianespace’s Kourou, French Guiana, launch site at 6:32 p.m. EDT. It was the 19th successful Ariane 5G mission.
Galaxy 15, built by Orbital Sciences Corp., carries 28 C-band transponders to provide high-definition television, video on demand and high-priority television broadcasting throughout the United States. The satellite also caries an L-band transponder to provide enhanced GPS services to U.S. commercial aircraft.
Syracuse 3A, built by Alcatel Alenia Space, will provide dedicated, secure communications for the French military. Thales Communications is in charge of the ground segment, which consists of about 600 networked ground stations.
