Launch of HYLAS-1 communication satellite

On Friday November 26, 2010, Arianespace orbited the communication satellite: HYLAS 1 ( pic 1)for the European operator Avanti Communications. Picture 2 shows Ariane 5’s initial climb-out from the ELA 3 launch zone at Europe’s Spaceport Kourou, which is located adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean coastline in French Guiana.. The launch took place at 15:39 local time (18:39 GMT) and the rocket released its two payloads (the other one being INTELSAT 17 for the international satellite operator Intelsat) into their planned orbits.

Owned and operated by Avanti Communications of the UK, the Hylas-1 communication satellite will demonstrate advanced high-speed technologies and provide innovative broadband services across Europe. The HYLAS satellite was jointly built by Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Antrix Corporation and EADS/Astrium and was initially injected into an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) with a perigee of 250 km, apogee of 35,906 km and inclination of 1.99º. Hylas-1 communication satellite will provide innovative broadband services across Europe.