Alcatel Launches Satellite For South Korea Using Zenit-3SL Lifter
Koreasat 5, the hybrid military and civilian communications satellite for South Korea, was launched successfully a week ago, Alcatel Alenia Space announced.
The Koreasat 5 satellite is owned jointly by the French Agency for Defense Development and KT Corp. of South Korea.
This launch took place on Aug. 21 at 8:27 p.m. PT (03:27 GMT Tuesday) by Sea Launch Co. on a Zenit-3SL rocket at 154 degrees West Longitude on the Equator.
Koreasat 5 was placed into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), on its way to reach after the completion of the Launch Early Operations a final orbital position of 113 degrees East
The satellite will offer secured military communications for the Korean defense forces. It will also serve KT’s satellite business by broadening the DTH TV offer in Korea.
Designed, manufactured and integrated by prime contractor Alcatel Alenia Space, Koreasat 5 is a 4,448 kilograms (9,806 pounds) satellite based on a Spacebus 4000 C1 platform.
The satellite brings 36 active transponders in Ku-band for the commercial mission and in Ka and SHF-bands for military purpose.
Koreasat 5 will deliver advanced broadband multimedia and digital television transmission services, along with conventional telecom services to operators in the Asia-Pacific region.
It features a state-of-the-art broadband payload, according to Alcatel, including new technologies developed within the scope of European military programs. This satellite will provide 8.6 kilowatts of electrical power and its lifetime is expected to extend beyond 15 years.
“The Koreasat 5 launch further strengthens the solid ties between our company and the Republic of Korea and together with our involvement in the Kompsat 2 and Kompsat 5 programs illustrates our active participation in Asia space project developments. Our ability to deliver dual (civil/military) solutions and our strong heritage have allowed us to provide upper technologies to meet the requirements of both our customers KT and ADD,” said Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO of Alcatel Alenia Space.