Article Posted on : - Sep 09, 2011

Amazonas-3 telecommunications satellite. Afile photo.

EVRY (BNS): Arianespace will launch Amazonas-3 telecommunications satellite for Spanish operator Hispasat.

Amazonas-3 will be launched by an Ariane 5 rocket at the end of 2012 or in early 2013 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

The satellite will replace the Amazonas-1 satellite at the same orbital position of 61 degrees West.

It will weigh about 6,000 kg at launch and will be equipped with 33 Ku-band transponders, 19 C-band transponders, and 9 Ka-band broadband spotbeams. This powerful satellite will provide a wide range of telecommunications services and broadband connectivity in the Americas and Europe.

The life span of the Amazonas-3 satellite is estimated to be of 15 years.

Amazonas-3 will be the seventh Spanish satellite launched by Arianespace. The European launcher first orbited the Hispasat 1A and 1B satellites in 1992 and 1993. Hispasat and its subsidiary Hisdesat called on Arianespace in 2005 and 2006 to launch the XTAR-Eur and Spainsat satellites. Most recently, Arianespace launched the Amazonas-2 and Hispasat 1E satellites in 2009 and 2010.