Flight VS17 – SES-15 | Soyuz Launch | Arianespace

Arianespace’s workhorse Soyuz launch vehicle successfully delivered SES-15 – an all-electric telecommunications satellite for operation by European-based SES – to a sub-geostationary transfer orbit.

The flight, designated VS17 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system, lasted 5 hrs., 18 min. from the precise liftoff at 08:54:53 a.m. (local time in French Guiana) to payload separation. It carried SES’ first satellite lofted by the medium-lift Soyuz launcher and the 40th overall for the operator launched by Arianespace.

Departing from the Spaceport’s ELS launch complex adjacent to the commune of Sinnamary, Flight VS17 delivered a total payload lift performance set at 2,447 kg; it was Arianespace’s fifth mission of 2017 and the Russian-built Soyuz’ 17th liftoff from French Guiana since this vehicle’s 2011 introduction at the Spaceport.

Arianespace’s long-term relationship with SES

Luce Fabreguettes, Arianespace’s Executive Vice President Missions, Operations & Purchasing, underscored Arianespace’s relationship with SES stretching back to 1984. She noted that more than 40 percent of the SES geostationary satellites currently in operation have been orbited by the launch services company – a number that does not include the O3b Networks satellites launched by Arianespace into medium Earth orbit.

Fabreguettes pointed out that Arianespace has five more SES satellites in the company’s launch services backlog – including another electric satellite, SES-12 –– along with four additional O3b spacecraft.

Delivered into a sub-geostationary transfer orbit by Soyuz, the telecom satellite will achieve the final position under the power of its all-electrical propulsion system –SES’s first satellite to use such technology.

Martin Halliwell, the Chief Technical Officer at SES, described today’s mission as a “fantastic launch,” and confirmed that initial telemetry was received from SES-15 shortly after its separation from Soyuz.

“After this 40th satellite with Arianespace, we’re going to be back for more,” he said in comments from the Spaceport. “We’re looking forward to a lot more satellites to launch with Arianespace.”

► Arianespace is the world’s leading satellite launch company. Founded in 1980, it deploys a family of three launchers – Ariane, Soyuz and Vega – to meet the needs of commercial and government customers.

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