Ariane 5, in 2nd straight solo mission, places Eutelsat 65 West A into orbit

Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket on March 8 successfully placed the Eutelsat 65 West A multi-band telecommunications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit. It was the vehicle’s 71st consecutive success, its second of 2016 and, exceptionally, the second straight solo-passenger mission. Paris-based Eutelsat said the satellite, built by SSL of Palo Alto, California, was healthy in orbit after separation from the Ariane 5 and had deployed its solar arrays. It is scheduled to enter full operations in early May – well in time to capture television business in Brazil during this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As was the case with fellow fleet operator Intelsat, whose 29e satellite was launched in January, Eutelsat decided it was better to pay a bit more as a solo passenger than to wait for a compatible co-passenger aboard the Ariane 5. More

(Source: Space News - Mar 9)