Ariane 5 launches two communication satellites for Asia-Pacific Region
MEASAT 3d and GSAT-24 manifest the First Ariane 5 launch of 2022 is a success, supporting MEASAT (Malaysia) and NSIL (India)
On Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 06:50 pm local time (21:50 UTC), An Ariane 5 ECA 'plus' rocket No. L5116 (Ariane Flight VA257) launched the MEASAT-3d and GSAT-24 satellites into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), a total payload of approximately 10,863 kg, from Ariane Launch Complex No. 3 (ELA 3) from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.
The rocket took off after a 'hold' (temporary suspension) of about 30 minutes in the countdown. MEASAT-3d is a multi-mission telecommunications satellite built by Airbus Defense and Space for MEASAT Malaysia. GSAT-24 is a 4,000 kg class communications satellite with Ku-band transmitters built for NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
This is the second launch carried out by Arianespace since the beginning of 2022. “The objective of the mission is to launch satellites with a total mass of more than 10 tons into geostationary orbit,” the company said. In fact, the launcher carried a total payload of approximately 10,863 kg.
“With this Ariane 5 mission, Arianespace is honored to support the ambitions of two key actors in the Asia-Pacific region: MEASAT, the leading Malaysian satellite operator and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company within the Department of Space (DOS) acting in concert with the Indian Space Agency ISRO. With the orbiting of both MEASAT-3d, the fourth satellite that we’ve launched for the benefit of Malaysia, and GSAT-24, the 25th Indian satellite we’ve delivered for them, we are affirming our long term partnership with these two great actors,” declared Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace
“Today’s successful mission of GSAT-24 is a major step forward for NSIL in commercially meeting the DTH communication needs of the country using indigenously built satellite solutions from ISRO,” Dr S Somanath, Secretary DOS said.
GSAT-24 is configured on ISRO's proven I-3k Bus with a mission life of 15 years. "'Demand-driven' mode basically means when the satellite is launched, one will know who the end customers are going to be and what's the kind of utilization and commitment so that you have very effective utilization of this satellite capacity once it goes into orbit", an NSIL official explained. "Earlier, the mode was more supply-driven, with capacity being leased after the launch with largely no firm commitment by customers beforehand", the official noted.
"The entire mission is fully funded by NSIL -- satellite, launch, launch campaign, insurance, transportation, in-orbit maintenance, and support. Once the satellite is up in orbit, this will be fully owned and operated by NSIL, Radhakrishnan Durairaj, NSIL Chairman and Managing Director said in a post-