Brasilsat B4 & Nilesat 102

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

23:16:00

Thursday August 17, 2000

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Flight V130.

Nilesat 102

Wiki

Nilesat 102 is an Egyptian-owned geosynchronous communications satellite that was launched by an Ariane 44LP rocket from Kourou, French Guiana on August 17, 2000, at 23:16 UTC by the European Space Agency. It was manufactured by the European company Matra Marconi Space (Astrium) and started official broadcasting on 12 September 2000 with an expected lifetime of 15 years. The spacecraft weighed 1,827 kg at launch.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

1,827 kilograms

Brasilsat B4

Wiki

Star One B4, originally designated Brasilsat B4, is a Brazilian communications satellite that is operated by Star One. It was constructed by the Hughes Space and Communications Company and is based on the HS-376W satellite bus. It was the penultimate HS-376, and final HS-376W to be launched. Its launch was contracted by Arianespace, using an Ariane 4 44LP-3 carrier rocket. The launch occurred at 23:16 GMT on 17 August 2000, from the ELA-2 launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre. The Nilesat 102 satellite was launched on the same rocket. It was originally built and launched as Brasilsat B4 for Embratel and was later transferred to Embratel's subsidiary Star One and renamed. Following its launch, it raised itself into geostationary orbit by means of its onboard R-4D apogee motor and was positioned at 75° West for on-orbit testing. This was completed in September 2000, and it was moved to 92° West, arriving in October. It remained at that position until January 2007 when it was relocated to 70° West. It arrived on station in February and subsequently departed in June 2008. In July 2008 it arrived at 84° West, where it is currently stationed. It carries twenty-eight transponders and has an expected on-orbit lifespan of 12 years. It initially replaced the Brasilsat A2 satellite.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

2,495 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Ariane 44LP

Active 1988 to 2001

European Space Agency logo

Manufacturer

ESA

Rocket

Diameter: 3.8m

Height: 58.72m

Payload to Orbit

GTO: 4,220 kg

Liftoff Thrust

5,800 Kilonewtons

Stages

3

Strap-ons

4

Launch Site

ELA-2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

16 days

Stats

Ariane 4


97th

Mission

4th

Mission of 2000

European Space Agency


118th

Mission

5th

Mission of 2000

2000


48th

Orbital launch attempt