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ArianespaceLaunch SuccessfulCommunicationsAriane 44L
Launched 1998-10-05 22:51 UTCAriane Launch Area 2, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Success
Reached Geostationary Orbit
Worldwide
61st
orbital launch attempt in 1998
Arianespace
7th
launch this year
Ariane Launch Area 2
7th
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
19 d 16 h
since the pad's previous launch
The W satellites are designed to provide telecommunications services primarily over Europe (Eutelsat W2, W3 and W5) and communication services over Russia and Africa (W4). W2, W3 and W5 are designed to offer 24 transponders at saturation and W4 is designed to provide 31 transponders at saturation. The W satellites have a minimum operational lifetime of 12 years. The spacecraft are based on the Spacebus-3000B2 platform. Sirius 3 provides direct-to-home television services to the Scandinavian region. Hughes upgraded NSAB's satellite control center at Esrange, Kiruna, and provided training to the satellite controllers. Sirius 3 was successfully launched on an Ariane-44L H10-3 on October 5, 1998. The satellite was built at the Integrated Satellite Factory of in El Segundo, Calif.
Arianespace SA is a multinational company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane programme. Their vehicles launch exclusively from French Guiana in South America.
Launches
328
Successful
313
95%
Upcoming
51
scheduled
Height
58.7m
Diameter
3.8m
To low Earth orbit
10,200kg
Liftoff thrust
5,395kN
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