KOUROU, French Guiana---Arianespace conducted its fourth launch of the year today, successfully placing the Galaxy IVR (4R) telecommunications satellite into an accurate geostationary transfer orbit for U.S. operator PanAmSat.
The nighttime Ariane 4 flight carried Galaxy IVR (4R), the 16th spacecraft orbited by Arianespace for PanAmSat -- the world's leading private satellite operator. It was the second mission for PanAmSat in 2000, following Flight 126 on January 24 that orbited PanAmSat's Galaxy XR (10R) spacecraft.
Arianespace will orbit a third satellite for PanAmSat before the end of the year, using an Ariane 5 to loft PAS 1R.
Galaxy IVR (4R) is the 38th Hughes Space and Communications-built satellite to be launched by Ariane.
Arianespace's 54th successful Ariane 4 flight in a row
Flight 129 launch vehicle Ariane 42L (two liquid-propellant strap-on boosters) 96th Ariane 4 out of 116 ordered from the European space industry Launch site : Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport, Kourou, French Guiana
Launch time : 09:29 pm, April 18 (local time) 12:29 am, April 19 (GMT) 02:29 am, April 19 (Paris time) 08:29 pm, April 18 (Washington, D.C. time)
PanAmSat Galaxy IVR Mission : Television, Internet and data transmission satellite Spacecraft type : Hughes Space & Communications HS 601 platform Manufacturer: Hughes Space & Communications, El Segundo, California Mass at liftoff : 3,668 kg. (8,069 lb.) Payload : 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders Position : 99 degrees West, over the Pacific Ocean Coverage : Continental United States, Puerto-Rico, Alaska and Hawaii
Following Flight 129, Arianespace's backlog now stands at 38 satellites to be launched. Arianespace has booked a total of 209 launch contracts to date.
-ends-
Arianespace Flight 129: Another Success For PanAmSat
