ABS-2 Satellite Successfully Launched by Arianespace
Kourou, French Guiana, February 6, 2014--The ABS-2 satellite was successfully launched at 6:30 p.m. Kourou time today. The satellite was launched on an Ariane ECA launch vehicle from the Guiana Space Center.
ABS-2 was manufactured by Space Systems/Loral (SSL) based on its 1300-series platform. It is a highly sophisticated multi-mission satellite, featuring up to 89 active C, Ku and Ka-band transponders across 10 different beams. ABS-2 brings unparalleled coverage and expansion capacity at ABS' prime location of 75 degrees East, extending affordable and reliable communications and broadcast services to the emerging markets of the world, acording to the company. It will provide broadcasting, telecommunications and data services for Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe Middle East, and Russia/CIS countries.
"We are delighted with the launch of ABS-2 satellite, our first satellite launch. We would like to thank both Arianespace and SSL for their collaboration for delivering today's successful launch," said >Tom Choi, CEO of ABS. "Our customers are looking forward to the new capacity on ABS-2 at 75o East, a new state of the art satellite serving the Eastern hemisphere. The ABS-2 satellite will significantly contribute towards our expansion plans and is part of our growth strategy to increase the ABS satellite fleet and and becoming a global satellite operator in the coming years," he added.
The launch of ABS-2 together with another satellite, Athena-Fidus a joint Italian and French military satellite, was the 250th successful commerical launch for Arianespace and the 58th in a row for the Ariane V rocket. ECA (Cryogenic Evolution type A) – the most powerful version in the Ariane 5 range . The Ariane 5 ECA (Cryogenic Evolution type A) – the most powerful version in the Ariane 5 range, was used for this mission.
ABS currently operates five satellites (ABS-1, ABS-1A, ABS-2i, ABS-3 and ABS-7) from 3 premium locations at 3°W, 75°E and 116°E. ABS-2 is its sixth satellite.
ABS has also ordered two Boeing 702SP satellites (ABS-3A & ABS-2A planned for 2014 and 2015 respectively) with the options to add more satellites over the next 2-3 years to its growing satellite fleet.
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