It seems that EchoStar-17, a satellite built by Space Systems/Loral, has been cleared for launch by Arianespace on July 5. The satellite was held back while awaiting a report on the problems that occurred with a Sea Launch/Energia rocket launch on May 31st ago, and which resulted in the Intelsat – 19 satellite not being able to deploy one of its pair of solar panels.

The launch is now going ahead which suggests that both Loral, owner EchoStar (and Hughes Networks Systems) as well as the craft’s insurance underwriters, are all happy to go ahead with the French Guiana launch.

Another Loral satellite, for SES, is also standing by for launch next week. SES-5 is being readied for launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Sea Launch themselves say they are still studying the data from the flawed May 31st launch.

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Categories: Blogs, DTH/Satellite, Inside Satellite