Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Space Travel News .




LAUNCH PAD
Arianespace launches O3b Networks via Soyuz rocket
by Staff Writers
Kourou, French Guiana (ESA) Jul 14, 2014


File image.

O3b Networks' mission to bridge the digital divide marked a significant step forward with the latest Arianespace Soyuz flight that deployed its next four satellites - which will complete the basic constellation for this customer's pioneering connectivity service and help make the O3b vision a reality.

The launch success - which had a total payload lift performance of more than 3,200 kg. - continues the partnership between Arianespace and O3b Networks, and builds upon the on-target Soyuz mission that orbited O3b's initial four spacecraft in June 2013.

This fruitful collaboration was highlighted by Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stephane Israel during comments from the Spaceport's mission control center, in which he noted O3b Networks is one of the 40 satellite operators to date that have selected Arianespace to start their business. He added: "Behind that choice, there is of course a true recognition of the reliability and availability of our launch systems."

Soyuz is the medium-lift member of Arianespace's launcher family operated from French Guiana, joined by the heavy-lift Ariane 5 and lightweight Vega. For this mission, it delivered O3b Networks' satellites during a flight lasting 2 hours and 22 minutes - which included multiple burns of the Fregat upper stage, with the four passengers released in two phases from a dispenser system.

The latest O3b Networks connectivity satellites are equipped with Ka-band transponders. Along with the four spacecraft launched last year, they form the network framework to provide billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low-cost, high-speed, low-latency Internet and mobile connectivity.

O3b Networks' satellite constellation is fully scalable to meet market demand and operates from a medium-orbit altitude of 8,062 km. From this low altitude, latency is dramatically reduced - bringing it on par with a long-haul fiber transmission. The O3b spacecraft were designed, integrated and tested by Thales Alenia Space.

With the presence of top officials in the mission control center for this launch, Israel also reaffirmed Arianespace's commitment to continue delivering tailor-made launch solutions with O3b's specific requirements.

Speaking after the satellites' separation was confirmed, O3b Networks CEO Steve Collar thanked all those involved with the mission success - and gave a special acknowledgement to the Arianespace and Thales Alenia Space leadership in attendance. "The relationship that we have is a unique one - it's one of partnership, one of cooperation, one of openness and one of friendship," he added.

Arianespace continues to set the standard in launch services worldwide. With the Soyuz, Ariane 5 and Vega launchers fully operational at the Spaceport in French Guiana, it is the only launch services company capable of delivering any payload into any orbit - from the smallest spacecraft to the largest geostationary satellites, as well as satellite clusters for constellations and cargo missions to the International Space Station.

The latest Soyuz success marked the medium-lift vehicle's eighth flight from the Spaceport since its 2011 introduction at French Guiana, as well as the fifth Arianespace mission from this equatorial launch site in 2014 - for which a total of 12 flights are planned with Soyuz, Ariane 5 and Vega during the year.

The next mission in Arianespace's 2014 manifest is the July 24 Ariane 5 flight that will deliver Europe's fifth, and final, Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for servicing of the International Space Station. The ATV program - managed by the European Space Agency (ESA) - is part of Europe's contribution to the International Space Station's operation.

.


Related Links
Arianespace
Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





LAUNCH PAD
O3b satellites integrated on Arianespace Soyuz for July 10 launch
Paris (SPX) Jul 09, 2014
Arianespace's next medium-lift Soyuz to be launched from French Guiana is now complete following the integration of its "upper composite," made up of four O3b Networks connectivity satellites, their protective payload fairing and the Fregat upper stage. This activity was performed at the Spaceport's ZLS launch complex near the town of Sinnamary. It began with the upper composite's transfer ... read more


LAUNCH PAD
Orbital launches cargo ship to space station

SSTL announces the successful launch of UK TechDemoSat-1

O3b satellites integrated on Arianespace Soyuz for July 10 launch

Russia Launches Rokot Carrier Rocket with Three Satellites

LAUNCH PAD
Forces of Martian Nature

Rover Uses Arm to Study Several Rocks and Takes Panoramic Images

NASA Spacecraft Observes Further Evidence of Dry Ice Gullies on Mars

ADS complete heat shields for 2016 ExoMars mission

LAUNCH PAD
Sky-gazers can expect one 'Supermoon' per month for the next three months

NASA LRO's Moon As Art Collection Is Revealed

Solar photons drive water off the moon

55-year old dark side of the moon mystery solved

LAUNCH PAD
What If Voyager Had Explored Pluto?

The PI's Perspective - Childhood's End

Final Pre-Pluto Annual Checkout Begins

Hubble Begins Search Beyond Pluto For Potential Flyby Targets

LAUNCH PAD
Newfound Frozen World Orbits in Binary Star System

Discovery expands search for Earth-like planets

Astronomers discover most Earth-like of all exoplanets

Mega-Earth in Draco Smashes Notions of Planetary Formation

LAUNCH PAD
NASA and Boeing finalize $2.8 million deal to build super powerful rocket

Russia to make fresh attempt to launch new rocket

Aerojet Rocketdyne Completes J-2X Testing

Swiss Space Systems plan mock-up test flights of SOAR

LAUNCH PAD
Chinese moon rover designer shooting for Mars

Yutu designer's bittersweet

Are China's Astronauts Moonbound

Chinese scientists prepare for lunar base life support system

LAUNCH PAD
Burning down to Rosetta comet rendezvous

Deep in the main asteroid belt

Comet Pan-STARRS Marches Across the Sky

Rosetta's comet 'sweats' two glasses of water a second




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.