Inmarsat teams up with Arianesat to launch S-band satellite

8th Dec 2016 08:18

(ShareCast News) - Global mobile satellite communications provider Inmarsat confirmed on Thursday it has signed a contract with Arianespace to launch its S-band satellite for the European Aviation Network on an Ariane 5 heavy lift launch vehicle.The FTSE 250 company said the EAN payload is part of a 'condosat' constructed by Thales Alenia Space, which incorporates a second payload for Hellas-Sat.It said the condosat is scheduled to be launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana in mid-2017.The condosat was originally scheduled for launch with SpaceX, Inmarsat said.However, following the delay in SpaceX's launch schedule, Inmarsat and Hellas-Sat took the decision to move the condosat to an Arianespace launch.Inmarsat will launch Inmarsat-5 F4, a Global Xpress satellite, with SpaceX.That launch is planned for H1 2017 and Inmarsat said it was looking forward to continuing to work with SpaceX going forward. "We are delighted with flexibility that Arianespace has shown in being able to provide a launch slot that enables us to place our European Aviation Network S-band satellite in orbit by mid-2017," said CTO Michele Franci."This launch schedule supports the introduction of our ground-breaking integrated satellite and air-to-ground network, developed by Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom, which will deliver a very high capacity broadband Wi-Fi experience for passengers flying throughout Europe."