Arabsat-5A

Arabsat-5A
Mission type	Communication
Operator	Arabsat
COSPAR ID	2010-032B
SATCAT no.	36745
Website	arabsat.com/pages/Arabsat5A.aspx
Mission duration	15 years
Spacecraft properties
Bus	Eurostar-3000
Manufacturer	Astrium
Launch mass	4,800 kilograms (10,600 lb)
Power	11-12 kilowatts
Start of mission
Launch date	26 June 2010, 21:41 UTC
Rocket	Ariane 5ECA
Launch site	Kourou ELA-3
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	30.5° East
Perigee altitude	35,779 kilometres (22,232 mi)
Apogee altitude	35,807 kilometres (22,249 mi)
Inclination	0.05 degrees
Period	23.93 hours
Epoch	24 December 2013, 06:06:12 UTC
Transponders
Band	16 G/H band (IEEE C band); 24 J band (IEEE Ku band)

Arabsat-5A is a Saudi Arabian communications satellite operated by Arabsat. It will be used to provide television, internet and telephone services to Arabia, Africa and Europe.^[3]

History

Arabsat-5A was constructed by Astrium, and is based on the Eurostar-3000 satellite bus. It has a mass of 4,800 kilograms (10,600 lb), and carries forty transponders; sixteen broadcasting in the G/H band of the NATO-defined spectrum, or the C band of the IEEE-defined spectrum, and twenty four operating in the NATO J band or the IEEE K_u band.^[4] Its solar arrays are expected to generate around 12 kilowatts of power at the beginning of the satellite's design life, and around 11 kilowatts at the end of it.^[5]

Arabsat-5A was launched by Arianespace using an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket lifting off from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The first attempt to launch it occurred on 23 June 2010, however the launch was scrubbed due to a problem with one of the rocket's subsystems.^[6] A subsequent attempt on 24 June was also scrubbed, due to a problem with the pressurisation of the rocket's fuel tanks.^[7] The launch occurred at 21:41 UTC on 26 June 2010.^[7]^[8] The South Korean COMS-1 satellite was launched by the same rocket, with a SYLDA adaptor being used to separate the spacecraft. Arabsat-5A was mounted atop the SYLDA, with COMS-1 underneath it.^[9]

Following launch, Arabsat-5A separated into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It then use an apogee motor to raise itself into geostationary orbit. Once it reached geostationary orbit, it underwent testing before beginning operations at a longitude of 30.5 degrees East, where it replaced Arabsat-2B.^[4] It is expected to operate for fifteen years.^[10]

References

^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
^ "ARABSAT 5A Satellite details 2010-032B NORAD 36745". N2YO. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
^ "Arabsat-5A". Arabsat. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
^ ^a ^b Krebs, Gunter. "Arabsat-5A". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
^ "Arabsat 5A Technical Users Guide" (PDF). Arabsat. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
^ "Flight 195 – Arabsat-5A - COMS: Launch delayed". Arianespace. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Arianespace launch 195 – Arabsat-5A and COMS: Liftoff is set for Saturday, June 26, 2010". Arianespace. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
^ "Mission accomplished! Arianespace orbits Arabsat-5A and COMS". Arianespace. June 26, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
^ "Ariane 5 Does The Heavy Lifting For Arabsat-5A and COMS". Satnews Daily. 21 June 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
^ "Arabsat-5A Main Data" (PDF). Arabsat. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.