Skynet 5A
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Satellite communications |
| Parent | EADS Astrium |
Skynet 5A represents the inaugural satellite in a new series of British military communications assets managed on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence. It was deployed into orbit via an Ariane 5 launch vehicle at 22:03 GMT on 11 March 2007.
Launch
As part of Arianespace's initial Ariane 5 mission in 2007, Skynet 5A was launched alongside India's INSAT 4B communications satellite. The lift-off, initially planned for 10 March, experienced a one-day postponement due to a malfunction detected in the launch pad's water deluge sensor system.
Construction
Produced by EADS Astrium, Skynet 5A and its companion satellites are built upon the Eurostar E3000 platform. Additionally, EADS Astrium chose Ariane 5 as the exclusive launch vehicle for all three satellites in the Skynet 5 series, underscoring a strategic collaboration aimed at enhancing UK defense communication capabilities.
Use
Designed to deliver secure communication services to the British armed forces and NATO, Skynet 5A has a launch weight of 4.7 tonnes and supports payload power output of 5 kilowatts—quadrupling that of the earlier Skynet 4 generation—thereby providing significantly improved performance.
The satellite is operated by Paradigm Secure Communications, a fully owned subsidiary of EADS Astrium, and maintains its orbital slot at 6 degrees East to support the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence.