Ariane 5 rocket launching MEV-2 space tug and 2 satellites

 An Arianespace, Ariane 5 rocket carrying will launch three satellites, including a space tug, into orbit tomorrow, Aug. 16, and you can watch it live online here at 2.30 AM (IST)

The rocket is carrying the Japanese broadcasting satellite BSAT-4b for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation and two satellites for Intelsat: the Galaxy 30 communications satellite and Mission Extension Vehicle 2, a space tug designed to latch on to older Intelsat satellites and ferry them to higher orbits, extending their mission life. 

Galaxy 30 / Mission Extension Vehicle-2

The Galaxy 30/MEV-2 is a Northrop Grumman Corporation (former Orbital ATK) program combining two satellites stacked together: Intelsat’s Galaxy 30 and Mission Extension Vehicle-2 for SpaceLogistics LLC, a satellite servicing vehicle which will dock first to Intelsat 10-02 (IS-10-02). 

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Galaxy 30 

(G-30) will be the first replacement satellite in Intelsat’s North American Galaxy fleet refresh. It will provide high-performance broadcast distribution capabilities, including Ultra-High Definition (HD), while also supporting broadband, mobility and enterprise network solutions.

The launch of G-30 demonstrates Intelsat’s long-term commitment to its media customers and its media distribution neighbourhoods, which have an unmatched penetration of cable headends in the United States. Galaxy 30 will be the 62nd satellite to be launched by Arianespace for Intelsat. Galaxy 30 will be the 29th Non-Government satellite to be launched by Arianespace.

MEV-2 

MEV-2 is supplied by Northrop Grumman for the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SpaceLogistics LLC. Intelsat 10-02 will be the first customer of the MEV-2. Once docked, it will control the orbit of the customer satellite using its own thrusters. After its mission for IS-10-02, MEV-2 will unlock and be available for another customer’s vehicle. The first MEV, MEV-1, was launched by Proton in October 2019. It docked with Intelsat-901 in February 2020. After MEV-2, Northrop Grumman and SpaceLogistics are developing a new generation of satellite servicing vehicles that could attach propulsion jetpacks to multiple spacecraft in a single mission. MEV-2 will be the 1st satellite servicing vehicle to be launched by Arianespace. MEV-2 will be the 30th NG satellite to be launched by Arianespace.

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BSAT-4b Satellite

The BSAT-4b satellite, designed and built for Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT), a leading broadcasting satellite operator in Japan, will be used for Direct-to-Home (DTH) television service above the Japan archipelago. 

BSAT-4b satellite will serve as a backup system after BSAT-4a launched in September 2017. It will be the 10th launch for B-SAT. It will provide Direct-To-Home (DTH) television to ensure exceptional 4K/8K ultra-high definition (UHD) video distribution above the Japan archipelago, like its twin BSAT-4a. It is designed to provide service for 15 years or longer. The Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) is a Japanese company created in April 1993 to manage satellite procurement, control and management of broadcast satellites, supply for basic broadcasting stations and to all operations and all businesses relating.BSAT-4b will be the 66th Maxar satellite to be launched by Arianespace. BSAT-4b will be the 68th satellite launched by Arianespace based on a Maxar (SSL) platform.