The first in a series of Space Systems/Loral Intelsat 9 communications satellites was launched into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 44L booster from Kourou, French Guiana, on 9 June.
It was the 62nd consecutive successful launch of an Ariane 4 and will be followed by the V142 mission on 12 July, the seventh commercial launch of the Ariane 5 booster. The V142 mission will carry the European Space Agency's Alenia-built Artemis communications technology satellite and the Japanese B-Sat 2b direct broadcasting satellite, built by Orbital Sciences.
Intelsat 901 is the first of a series of six satellites, manifested by Arianespace in its orderbook of 37 satellites. The orderbook also includes nine Automatic Transfer Vehicles to be launched for the International Space Station.
The 901 was the 18th Intelsat satellite launched by Arianespace. The 4,720kg (10,400lb) spacecraft is equipped with 42 C-band and 14 Ku-band transponders and will be located at 342íE in geostationary orbit.
Source: Flight International
