 |
After a one-day delay, an Ariane 5 rocket will blast off tonight (Oct. 23) from a South American spaceport with two communications satellites, and you can watch the launch live online.
Launch provider Arianespace will use the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana to launch the Ariane 5 rocket tonight within a 2.5-hour window that begins at 9:01 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (10:01 p.m. local time in Kourou or 0101 GMT Sunday, Oct. 24). After a 24-hour delay, the rocket will lift off. This extra time will be used for ground system inspections.
About 20 minutes before liftoff, Arianespace will stream the launch live in the window above. On top of that, you may follow along with the launch on Arianespace's website.
To pave the way for tonight's fresh launch attempt, officials from Arianespace issued a statement early this morning saying that examination of ground equipment was finished and that the 'anomaly' that derailed Friday's scheduled launch had been "recognized and remedied." As part of the operation, the Luxembourg-based telecommunications operator SES will launch the SES-17 communications satellite, and the French Ministry of Defense will launch the Syracuse 4A military communications satellite.
A statement from Arianespace said the Ariane launch vehicle, satellite SES-17, and Syracuse 4A are "under stable and safe circumstances on the pad".
As a high-throughput communications satellite built by Thales Alenia Space, the SES-17 will provide high-speed Ka-band communications coverage from a geosynchronous orbit for clients in North America, South America, and across the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean.
Last month, SES officials noted in a statement that the project will help bridge the digital gap by meeting the growing need for high-speed and flexible data connections in the aviation, marine, corporate, and government sectors.
According to an Arianespace mission summary, the satellite has 200 programmable spot beams and is the first SES satellite to carry a fully digital payload powered by a Digital Transparent Processor.
According to Arianespace's overview, the Thales Alenia Space 5th generation Digital Transparent Processor (DTP) aboard SES-17 "allows for straightforward frequency conversion and unrestricted gateway switching and traffic routing". "When combined with adjustable amplifiers, it will match the changing needs of customers and real-time traffic demands."
Another French satellite manufacturer, Thales Alenia Space, created the Syracuse 4A, which the country's Armament General Directorate commissioned to establish a communications connection between all of France's military forces.
It is necessary for forces operating on the sea, air, or ground to have effective ways of exchanging information with the command centre. This is stated in Arianespace's mission description. "Syracuse 4A will ensure strong resistance to severe jamming techniques thanks to its state-of-the-art technology (anti-jamming antenna and digital transparent processor on board)."
A constellation of military communications satellites, including Syracuse 4A and two follow-on satellites, is anticipated to connect the country's naval vessels, armoured vehicles, and aircraft in the future.
Most navy warships, armoured vehicles, and aircraft, particularly Griffon armoured vehicles and the future Suffren attack submarines, will link up.
Also Read: What is a Galaxy? | Galaxies, explained
0 Comments