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Arabsat-5A
Arabsat-5A is a Saudi Arabian communications satellite operated by Arabsat. It will be used to provide television, internet and telephone services to Arabia, Africa and Europe.[3] HistoryArabsat-5A was constructed by Astrium, and is based on the Eurostar-3000 satellite bus. It has a mass of 4,800 kilograms (10,600 lb), and carries forty transponders; sixteen broadcasting in the G/H band of the NATO-defined spectrum, or the C band of the IEEE-defined spectrum, and twenty four operating in the NATO J band or the IEEE Ku band.[4] Its solar arrays are expected to generate around 12 kilowatts of power at the beginning of the satellite's design life, and around 11 kilowatts at the end of it.[5] Arabsat-5A was launched by Arianespace using an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket lifting off from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The first attempt to launch it occurred on 23 June 2010, however the launch was scrubbed due to a problem with one of the rocket's subsystems.[6] A subsequent attempt on 24 June was also scrubbed, due to a problem with the pressurisation of the rocket's fuel tanks.[7] The launch occurred at 21:41 UTC on 26 June 2010.[7][8] The South Korean COMS-1 satellite was launched by the same rocket, with a SYLDA adaptor being used to separate the spacecraft. Arabsat-5A was mounted atop the SYLDA, with COMS-1 underneath it.[9] Following launch, Arabsat-5A separated into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It then use an apogee motor to raise itself into geostationary orbit. Once it reached geostationary orbit, it underwent testing before beginning operations at a longitude of 30.5 degrees East, where it replaced Arabsat-2B.[4] It is expected to operate for fifteen years.[10] References
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