Performing its third mission of the year, Ariane 5 successfully orbited satellites for Japan’s SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and Avanti Communications of the UK on 5^th April. The two satellites took the total number of satellites orbited by the European launcher beyond the 200 mark.

The mission, with an estimated total lift performance of 10,260kg, was the 242^nd launch of an Ariane-series vehicle to date, as well as the 83^rd Ariane 5 success since 2002.

DSN-1/Superbird-8 – a dual-use relay platform – rode in the upper passenger position on Ariane 5 and was deployed first on today’s flight.

Its Superbird-8 payload uses high-performance Ku- and Ka-band transponders for communications services primarily in the Japanese market. DSN-1 is an X-Band Defense Communications Satellite, in association with the Program to Upgrade and Operate X-Band Satellite Communications Function, for which the DSN Corporation, a subsidiary of SKY Perfect JSAT, has concluded a programme contract with Japan’s Ministry of Defense.

DSN-1/Superbird-8 was produced by MELCO (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation) using a DS2000 platform, with manufacturing management provided by NEC Corporation. It is the third MELCO-built satellite to be launched by Arianespace and will operate from a final orbital position at 162 deg. East Longitude.

The second satellite, HYLAS 4, will deliver high-speed, reliable and secure satellite communications in Ka-band to Internet service providers (ISPs), mobile network operators (MNOs), governments and satellite operators across Europe. Produced by Orbital ATK, HYLAS 4’s steerable beams also enable coverage for Europe, South America, the Caribbean and Middle East.

Next up in the Arianespace launch manifest is Ariane 5 Flight VA243, which is scheduled to orbit the GSAT-11 and Azerspace-2/Intelsat 38 satellites on 25^th May.