The European launch provider Arianespace had cause to celebrate in late April for two reasons. Firstly, negotiations to end the general strike and protests preventing launches from the French Guiana launch site, at Kourou, have ended with agreement.
Under the deal, the French government will provide an initial EUR€1 billion of aid to French Guiana, followed by a further tranche of EUR€2.5 billion. The dispute started over working conditions and pay at the Kourou launch site, but soon spread to include national issues such as the provision of economic investment and health care to the local population. Using roadblocks, protestors were able to stop preparations for Ariane launches which, in turn, put pressure on the French space agency CNES and the rest of the French government.
Arianespace now hopes to restart launches in early May with the much delayed Ariane 5 flight carrying SGDC and KOREASAT-7.
The second bit of good news for Arianespace came when it announced that it had received the launch order for the Horizons 3e spacecraft, owned by the Horizons joint venture between Intelsat and SKY Perfect JSAT. The 6,500 kg spacecraft, which will operate as part of the Intelsat Global Epic network, is a high throughput satellite (HTS) offering 22 Gps of capacity using C-band and Ku-band transponders. It will be launched in late 2018 on an Ariane 5 ECA flying from French Guiana.
Ariane 5 ECA rocket launches from Kourou on flight VA234. Courtesy: Arianespace
