Skynet 5B
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
| Predecessor | Paradigm Secure Communications |
| Owner | British Ministry of Defence |
Skynet 5B is a defense communications satellite managed by Astrium Services (previously known as Paradigm Secure Communications) on behalf of the British Ministry of Defence. It represents the second launch in the series of four Skynet 5 satellites.
Spacecraft
Constructed by Astrium, Skynet 5B utilizes the Eurostar 3000S platform. The satellite has a launch weight close to and is engineered for a service duration of 15 years. Its solar arrays supply a minimum of 6 kilowatts, supporting UHF and X-band communication payloads.
The initial Skynet 5 plan included two satellites, with Skynet 5A having been deployed earlier in 2007. By the time Skynet 5B was launched, an additional backup satellite, Skynet 5C, had been introduced as an on-orbit reserve in 2008. Later, Skynet 5D was commissioned to take over the backup role and was launched in 2012. This Skynet 5 series succeeded the former Skynet 4 network.
Launch
On 14 November 2007 at 22:06 UTC, Skynet 5B was deployed aboard an Ariane 5ECA vehicle from the ELA-3 launch site at the Kourou facility. It shared this mission with Star One C1 and was positioned atop a Sylda 5 adapter, separating first from the launch vehicle.
Orbit
Following liftoff, Skynet 5B was inserted into a geosynchronous transfer orbit characterized by a 6° inclination. The satellite then utilized its apogee engine to transition into a geostationary orbit located at 53° East longitude, achieving a perigee of , an apogee of , and an inclination effectively reduced to zero.