Mission VA257 will help improve the broadband coverage in the Asia-Pacific region.
This Ariane 5 launch from Arianespace’s Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport, is scheduled for June 22, during a launch window from 21:03 to 22:43 UTC. This is the first Ariane 5 of the year that will orbit two geostationary telecommunication satellites, MEASAT-3d and GSAT-24.
The satellites will be launched for two major actors and long-standing Arianespace customers: MEASAT, the leading Malaysian satellite operator, and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company under Department of Space (DOS).
MEASAT-3d, to be co-located with MEASAT-3a and MEASAT-3b at the 91.5°E orbital slot, is a multi-mission telecommunications satellite built by Airbus Defense and Space. This new satellite will significantly enhance broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps per user in areas with limited or no terrestrial network throughout Malaysia while continuing to provide redundancy and additional capacity for video distribution in HD, 4K, and ultimately 8K in the Asia-Pacific region.
GSAT-24, a Ku-band 4-ton class communications satellite built by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) that will provide high-quality television, telecommunications and broadcasting services over India. GSAT-24 satellite is the 1st Demand Driven communication satellite mission undertaken by NSIL.
Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher is an ESA program carried out in cooperation between public institutions and industry. ArianeGroup is the lead contractor for the development and production of Ariane 5, as well as responsible for campaign operations up to liftoff. Ariane 5 is marketed and operated by Arianespace from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, with the support of the French space agency CNES, as responsible for the design and the maintenance of the launch range and the satellite preparation facilities.