DIRECTV-15

DIRECTV-15 telecommunications satellite has reached the European spaceport in French Guiana to prepare for lift-off on-board the Ariane 5 launcher in May.

The spacecraft was delivered to French Guiana from Airbus Defence and Space’s cleanroom facility in Toulouse, France.

The satellite landed at Félix Eboué Airport near the capital city of Cayenne aboard a chartered Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner. It was unloaded and transferred by road to the spaceport.

"The satellite will provide additional digital television services for more than 20 million DIRECTV customers in the US."

DIRECTV-15 is being prepared for pre-launch checkout at the spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility.

Designated VA223, the Ariane 5 flight will also have another companion alongside DIRECTV-15 satellite, according to Arianespace.

With a lift-off mass of around 6,200kg, the DIRECTV-15 is designed with an 18kW end-of-life power, to deliver more than 15 years of in-orbit operations.

The satellite will provide additional digital television services for more than 20 million DIRECTV customers in the US.

Built on Airbus Defence and Space’s Eurostar E3000 platform, the satellite features more than 150 radio-frequency power amplifiers, and can operate in Ku-band, Ka-band and reverse band from several orbital positions covering continental US, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

In November 2011, Airbus Defence and Space secured a contract from DIRECTV to build design and manufacture DIRECTV 15.

Image: The DIRECTV-15 satellite is transported to French Guiana aboard a chartered Antonov An-124 cargo jetliner. Photo: courtesy of Arianespace.