An Ariane 5 ECA+ successfully launched a 6.4 metric ton communications satellite called EUTELSAT KONNECT VHTS at 2145 GMT on flight VA258 on 7 September.
The launch took place from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. Thales Alenia Space built EUTELSAT KONNECT VHTS to have a very high throughput with an instantaneous throughput of 500 Gbps. This was to allow high-speed internet access throughout Europe, especially in isolated regions with currently poor coverage land, sea or in the air. The satellite uses the Spacebus NEO all-electric propulsion platform.
The night Ariane 5 launch of flight VA258 carrying EUTELSAT KONNECT VHTS communications satellite. Courtesy: Arianespace
The spacecraft was launched into a targeted super-synchronous geosynchronous transfer orbit of 60351 x 250 km at 3.5 degrees inclination. That is, it has an apogee well in excess of its final circular geostationary orbit. This is done to allow a fuel efficient removal of the slight inclination of the orbit as the spacecraft is eventually circularised by the electric onboard thrusters.
Diagram of launch plan of VA258 launch making the target transfer orbit’s very high apogee obvious. Courtesy: Arianespace
After payload separation Stéphane Israël, the head of Arianespace, announced the flight as a success on Twitter and thanked Eutelsat for putting their trust in their organisation.
While Arianespace looks ahead to its Ariane 6 launch offering, there is life in the reliable old Ariane 5 workhorse. This launch marked the second Ariane 5 flight this year.
