Ariane 5 launches GSAT-16 and DIRECTV 14 telecommunication satellites

Arianespace’s heavy-lift vehicle Ariane 5 has placed telecommunications satellites Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO), GSAT-16 and DIRECTV’s DIRECTV-14, into geostationary transfer orbit.

Designated as Flight VA221, the mission delivered a total payload lift of around 10,200kg.

The satellites were launched from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.

Nearly 28 minutes after lift-off, the DIRECTV-14 spacecraft separated from Ariane 5 and was deployed first in the flight sequence and the co-passenger GSAT-16 was deployed four minutes later.

Arianespace chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël said: "This dual mission to geostationary transfer orbit is the very symbol of Arianespace’s capacity to address the entire span of satellite communications operators."

Planned to be operated from 99° west, the 20kW DIRECTV-14 is a Ka-band and reverse-band digital broadcast satellite built on the Space Systems/Loral (SSL) 1300 spacecraft platform and weighs 6,300kg.

It is designed to offer Ultra HD and other new consumer services across the US, including Hawaii and Alaska and Puerto Rico.

Israël said: "Arianespace and DIRECTV started their cooperation 21 years ago and met with many successes together.

"With three more DIRECTV satellites lining up in our order book, this win-win relationship will enable to meet with many more in the future."

Weighing 3,180kg, the GSAT-16 carries Ku- and C-band transponders. It will operate from an orbital position of 55° east.

ISRO satellite centre director Shivakumar said that ISRO will launch GSAT-15 on another Ariane 5 in the next year.

"And we do hope in the years to come that many more opportunities to work together will exist for us," Shivakumar said.

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Image: Ariane 5 lofted with DIRECTV-14 and GSAT-16 satellite payloads from the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone. Photo: courtesy of Arianespace.