Arianespace Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 Ariane 44L
About the Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 Mission
- Type: Communications
- Orbit: Geostationary Orbit
The W satellites are designed to provide telecommunications services primarily over Europe (Eutelsat W2, W3 and W5) and communication services over Russia and Africa (W4). W2, W3 and W5 are designed to offer 24 transponders at saturation and W4 is designed to provide 31 transponders at saturation. The W satellites have a minimum operational lifetime of 12 years. The spacecraft are based on the Spacebus-3000B2 platform. Sirius 3 provides direct-to-home television services to the Scandinavian region. Hughes upgraded NSAB's satellite control center at Esrange, Kiruna, and provided training to the satellite controllers. Sirius 3 was successfully launched on an Ariane-44L H10-3 on October 5, 1998. The satellite was built at the Integrated Satellite Factory of in El Segundo, Calif.
Launch Pad & Location
Ariane Launch Area 2
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
The Ariane Launch Area 2 launch pad has hosted 119 rocket launches, including 119 orbital launch attempts. The Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana launch site has been the location for 333 total rocket launches.
The Guiana Space Centre is a European spaceport to the northwest of Kourou in French Guiana, a region of France in South America. Kourou is located at a latitude of 5°. In operation since 1968, it is a suitable location for a spaceport because of its equatorial location and open sea to the east.
Aérospatiale Ariane 44L Rocket
The Ariane 4 was an expendable space launch system, developed by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the French space agency, for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was manufactured by ArianeGroup and marketed by Arianespace. Since its first flight on 15 June 1988 until the final flight on 15 February 2003, it attained 113 successful launches out of 116 total launches.
About Arianespace
Arianespace SA is a multinational company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane programme. Their vehicles launch exclusively from French Guiana in South America.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Arianespace Ariane 44L Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 launch scheduled?
The Arianespace Ariane 44L Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 launch was scheduled for:
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Where did the Arianespace Ariane 44L Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 mission launch from?
The Arianespace Ariane 44L rocket launched from Ariane Launch Area 2 at Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana. The Guiana Space Centre is a European spaceport to the northwest of Kourou in French Guiana, a region of France in South America. Kourou is located at a latitude of 5°. In operation since 1968, it is a suitable location for a spaceport because of its equatorial location and open sea to the east.
What rocket was used for the Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 mission?
The Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 mission launched aboard a Arianespace Ariane 44L rocket. The Ariane 4 was an expendable space launch system, developed by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the French space agency, for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was manufactured by ArianeGroup and marketed by Arianespace. Since its first flight on 15 June 1988 until the final flight on 15 February 2003, it attained 113 successful launches out of 116 total launches. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
What weather conditions could have delayed the Arianespace Ariane 44L Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 launch?
The Arianespace Ariane 44L Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the Arianespace Ariane 44L Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest Arianespace Ariane 44L launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the Eutelsat W2 & Sirius 3 mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official Arianespace live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.