Skynet 5A

Infobox Spacecraft
Organisation = British Ministry of Defence
Major_Contractors = Paradigm Secure Communications/EADS Astrium
Mission_Type = Military communications
Launch = 11 March 2007
Carrier_Rocket = Ariane 5ECA
Launch_Site = ELA-3, Guiana Space Centre
Mission_Duration = 15 years
NSSDC_ID = 2007-007A
Mass = 4,700 kilograms
Orbit_regime = GSO

Skynet 5A is the first in a series of new-generation Skynet military communications satellites, used by the British Ministry of Defence. It was launched aboard an Ariane 5 carrier rocket at 22:03 GMT on 11 March 2007.

Launch

Skynet 5A was one of two payloads orbited by the first Arianespace Ariane 5 launch of 2007. India's INSAT 4B communications satellite was launched on the same rocket.

It was originally planned for launch on 10 March, but due to a problem with a sensor controlling the launch pad water deluge system, the launch was delayed one day.

Construction

Skynet 5A was built by EADS Astrium, who also selected Ariane 5 as the carrier rocket to launch all three Skynet 5-series satellites. Their design is based on the E3000 variant of the Eurostar satellite bus.

Use

Skynet 5A will be used to provide secure communications services for the British armed forces, NATO, and a number of other countrieswhich. Skynet 5A had a launch mass of 4.7 tonnes, and operates with a payload power of 5 kilowatts, four times more than the previous-generation Skynet 4 satellites.

It is operated by Paradigm Secure Communications Limited, a commercial organisation which is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS Space Services, on behalf of the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence.

See also

* Skynet (satellites)