Arianespace's upcoming Ariane 5 ECA flight will match a range of payloads for its dual-satellite launch. The next mission, scheduled for Aug. 11, will carry France's Syracuse 3B military relay platform, along with the civilian JCSAT-10 telecommunications spacecraft for Japan's JSAT Corp.
Both satellites currently are undergoing their final check-out in the modern S5 satellite preparation facility at Europe's Spaceport. This massive facility enables multiple spacecraft to be readied at the same time – with the ability to process sensitive satellites such as military payloads under conditions of total security.
Syracuse 3B will have a liftoff mass of 3,700 kilograms (8,140 pounds) and will operate in the SHF (super high frequency) and EHF (extremely high frequency) bands.
Produced by Europe's Alcatel Alenia Space for the French DGA defense procurement agency, the satellite has been hardened to resist nuclear attack and is to offer significantly enhanced service in terms of data throughout and resistance to countermeasures.
Its JCSAT-10 co-passenger weighs 4,000 kilograms (8,800 pounds) and is a hybrid satellite that carries Ku-band high-power transponders and C-band medium-power transponders. It was built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems and will be located at 128 degrees east longitude for operation by JSAT.
The mission follows the Ariane 5 ECA launch on May 27, which carried the Satmex 6 and Thaicom 5 satellites with a record payload weight of 8,200 kilograms (18,040 pounds) to geostationary transfer orbit.
That launch was preceded by the March 11 flight of an Ariane 5 ECA to loft the HOT BIRDTM 7A and SPAINSAT satellites.
