So Inmarsat 5 F4 really is launching on Falcon, and EuropaSat/HellasSat 3 may move to a different launch vehicle but final decision not made yet.SpaceNews: Inmarsat, juggling two launches, says SpaceX to return to flight in DecemberQuoteInmarsat has three launch contracts with SpaceX. Up to now, it had planned to launch its Inmarsat 5-F4 Ka-band broadband mobile communications satellite on a Falcon 9 in late 2016; an S-band aeronautical-connectivity satellite on a new Falcon Heavy rocket in early 2017; and the first of the Inmarsat-6 satellites after that.QuoteInmarsat has decided to stick with SpaceX for the 5-F4 satellite, but to seek alternatives for the mid-2017 S-band satellite launch.“It’s largely a function of where you are in the manifest,” Pearce said of Inmarsat’s launch reasoning. “With Inmarsat 5 F4, we’re well up in the queue — I think we are number five or six....With the S-band EAN satellite, he said, the reasoning is different.“We are further [back in] the queue and therefore there’s a risk of further delays because SpaceX not only has to get back to flight but to demonstrate that it can maintain a very good launch schedule. So you could presumably have a day-to-day delay....Pearce said it remain possible that SpaceX will be able to confirm a May or June launch, but that would be difficult to achieve in the deadline Inmarsat has to find an alternative rocket....“It’s probably more likely we would look to exercise one of the options we have been quietly cultivating behind the scenes,” Pearce said. “We’ve talked about one of them, which is the [International Launch Services] Proton launch that we have up our sleeve anyway. But we do have other options as well...”
Inmarsat has three launch contracts with SpaceX. Up to now, it had planned to launch its Inmarsat 5-F4 Ka-band broadband mobile communications satellite on a Falcon 9 in late 2016; an S-band aeronautical-connectivity satellite on a new Falcon Heavy rocket in early 2017; and the first of the Inmarsat-6 satellites after that.
Inmarsat has decided to stick with SpaceX for the 5-F4 satellite, but to seek alternatives for the mid-2017 S-band satellite launch.“It’s largely a function of where you are in the manifest,” Pearce said of Inmarsat’s launch reasoning. “With Inmarsat 5 F4, we’re well up in the queue — I think we are number five or six....With the S-band EAN satellite, he said, the reasoning is different.“We are further [back in] the queue and therefore there’s a risk of further delays because SpaceX not only has to get back to flight but to demonstrate that it can maintain a very good launch schedule. So you could presumably have a day-to-day delay....Pearce said it remain possible that SpaceX will be able to confirm a May or June launch, but that would be difficult to achieve in the deadline Inmarsat has to find an alternative rocket....“It’s probably more likely we would look to exercise one of the options we have been quietly cultivating behind the scenes,” Pearce said. “We’ve talked about one of them, which is the [International Launch Services] Proton launch that we have up our sleeve anyway. But we do have other options as well...”
Why would Inmarsat not switch this to a Falcon 9 launch, like they hinted at in August? Furthermore, why would they not swap it with Inmarsat 5 F4 (which weighs more), as this satellite is so much more important for the company financially?
2017Date – Satellite(s) – Rocket/Upper stage – Cosmodrome – Time...Not early than the second quarter - Europasat (HellasSat-3) – Proton-M/Briz-M – Baikonur...Changes on November 29
VA238 with GSAT17 & HS3-IS currently planned for 28 June
DutchSpace @DutchSpace 16m16 minutes agoIt's busy at #CSG , the #Ariane5 EPC has arrived for the #VA238 launch planned for 28th of June
GSAT-17 Spacecraft was flagged off from ISRO Satellite Centre to launch pad on 11th May 2017: http://www.isac.gov.in/flagoff-GSAT-17.jsp
DutchSpace @DutchSpace 22s23 seconds agoSome #CSG updates: #VA237 planned for 01/06/2017 at 20:45 local #VA238 planned for 28/06/2017 at 18:20 local
Keeping up the launch cadence! @isro’s #GSAT17 satellite arrived in French Guiana for @arianespace’s #Ariane5 mission in late June #VA238
DutchSpace @DutchSpace 3m3 minutes agoNice shot of @isro #GSAT17 Arrived at #CSG on Monday, shown here undergoing fitcheck for launch on #Ariane5 #VA238
Solid booster rollout for mating with core stage. Flight VA238. Hellas-Sat 3/Inmarsat S and GSAT-17
Ariane 5 core cryogenic stage is positioned for launcher build-up. Flight VA238. Hellas-Sat 3/Inmarsat S and GSAT-17
Erection of Ariane 5’s core cryogenic stage inside the Launcher Integration Building. Flight VA238. Hellas-Sat 3/Inmarsat S and GSAT-17
Ariane 5 May 22, 2017Parallel Ariane 5 mission preparations are underway for Arianespace’s next dual payload heavy-lift launchesAriane 5 build-up for Arianespace's Flight VA238The build-up process for Flight VA238’s Ariane 5 at the Spaceport began with erection of the core cryogenic stage and its positioning over the launch table inside the Launcher Integration Building ([see previous post] photos left and center), followed by the first of two solid booster rollouts for mating with the core stage ([see previous post] photo at right).The Spaceport’s ability to support Arianespace’s launch cadence by enabling multiple missions to be readied in parallel is demonstrated once again with the two Ariane 5s currently undergoing processing in French Guiana.Inside the Spaceport’s Launcher Integration Building, the Ariane 5 for Flight VA238 is taking shape for a June 28 liftoff with a dual-satellite payload: the Hellas-Sat 3/Inmarsat S multi-mission relay satellite for Inmarsat and Hellas-Sat; and the Indian Space Research Organisation’s GSAT-17 communications spacecraft.This heavy-lift vehicle’s build-up process began with the positioning of its core cryogenic stage over one of two mobile launch tables for Ariane 5. It cleared the way for the transfer of two large solid propellant boosters from their remote preparation zone to the Launcher Integration Building, where they will be mated to the Ariane 5’s core stage.Ariane 5’s build-up performed by Airbus Safran LaunchersThe basic build-up will then be completed with integration of Ariane 5’s cryogenic upper stage and vehicle equipment bay, followed by checkout and functional tests.Performing this entire phase of launcher integration activity is Arianespace’s parent company and Ariane 5 prime contractor: Airbus Safran Launchers.Flight VA238’s launcher will then be ready for transfer to the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, where it will receive the Hellas-Sat 3/Inmarsat S and GSAT-17 satellite passengers.The Final Assembly Building currently is occupied by the Ariane 5 for Arianespace Flight VA237, which is set for a June 1 liftoff with the ViaSat-2 and Eutelsat E172B telecommunications satellites. This Ariane 5 is installed on the second mobile launch table used by Arianespace’s heavy-lift vehicles, and awaits its dual-passenger payload integration.Arianespace is targeting a total of 12 missions in 2017 utilizing its family of the heavy-lift Ariane 5, medium-lift Soyuz and light-lift Vega. So far in 2017, the launch services company has performed five flights from the Spaceport: two each with Ariane 5 and Soyuz, along with one Vega mission.
The GSAT-17 satellite for Arianespace Flight VA238 undergoes pre-launch processing in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility.
European Aviation Network satellite shipped to spaceport24 May 2017: The satellite which will power Inmarsat’s revolutionary European Aviation Network (EAN) has been shipped to the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana in preparation for launch in June.Inmarsat’s S-band satellite is part of a condominium satellite, or ‘condosat’, constructed by Thales Alenia Space, which incorporates a second payload for Hellas-Sat. It will be launched by Arianespace on an Ariane 5 rocket.The first of its kind worldwide, the EAN will combine high capacity, multi-beam satellite coverage with a complementary 4G LTE ground network, developed by Deutsche Telekom, to provide high-speed passenger Wi-Fi on flights across all European Union states.Busy routesDesigned specifically for high-traffic flight paths and busy airport hubs, the integrated network will deliver high-speed capacity so that passengers can enjoy a reliable broadband service in the air that matches their expectations on the ground.The Hellas-Sat satellite will provide fixed satellite and broadcast satellite services to Europe, the Middle East and Southern Africa.Built on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus 4000 C4 platform, the condosat will weigh about 5.8 tonnes at launch and will offer payload power of approximately 12.7 kW. It will be positioned at 39° East.
Hello, Hellas-Sat 3/Inmarsat S! This satellite is now in French Guiana for June #Ariane5 launch on Flight #VA238. @InmarsatGlobal @HellasSat
Inmarsat Verified account @InmarsatGlobalOur #EANsat is unboxed & undergoing final tests prior to launch on an #Ariane5 🚀 to bring #inflightwifi over Europe! http://www.inmarsat.com/aviation/aviation-connectivity-services/european-aviation-network/