Arianespace launches the first two satellites of the thirteen missions planned for 2019

The French aerospace company responsible for launch activities at the Guiana Center puts two communications satellites owned by operators in Saudi Arabia and India into orbit.

Arianespace started this week 2019 launch campaign with the launch into orbit aboard a European Ariane 5 rocket of two communications satellites owned by operators of Saudi Arabia and India. These launches are the first two of a total of thirteen scheduled for this year.

This launch, successfully completed, is the 103rd flight of the Ariane 5 since its commissioning in 1996.

Ariane 5 deployed the satellites one at a time, deploying the satellite first. Hellas-Sat 4/SGS 1, and then discarding the adapter cover for separation of the communications satellite GSAT 31 approximately 42 minutes after takeoff.

Each satellite will use its own thrusters to circularize its orbits more than 35,400 kilometers above the equator, where its orbital speed will match the speed of the Earth's rotation, giving the satellites fixed coverage zones, with Hellas-Sat 4/SGS 1 covering the Middle East, Europe and Africa, and GSAT 31 covering India and the Indian Ocean.

It is noteworthy that on this occasion The launcher has been named as Sevilla on the occasion of the Presidency of the Ariane Community of Cities during 2019, which means assuming the European capital of space. A large international event, in which 41 entities, institutions and companies participate, and which has more than 70 activities and major events that will take place throughout 2019 with the aim of promoting and boosting the city's aerospace fabric.