After an unexpected 20 minute delay, which was not related to either the rocket or its precious cargo, the Arianespace rocket lifted off flawlessly on a text-book launch from the Kourou rocket site in French Guiana. The Ariane 5 rocket released Thor-7 for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) just 28 minutes after lift-off.

Thor-7 will now progress steadily towards its 1 degree West operating position. Thor-7 was built by Space Systems/Loral, and its multi-role mission includes Ku and Ka-band transponders. Its main role will be to serve the expanding oil and gas, and cruise ship markets over the North Sea, the Mediterranean, the Norwegian Sea, and the Baltic and Red seas.

The launch, Number 222 for Arianespace, represented the 64th successive success for Ariane 5 and its 78th flight overall.

The next Ariane flight is scheduled for May and with DirecTV-15 and a satellite for Mexico.

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Categories: Articles, DTH/Satellite