Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
23:16:00
Thursday August 17, 2000
Flight V130.
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
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
Manufacturer
ESARocket
Diameter: 3.8m
Height: 58.72m
Payload to Orbit
GTO: 4,220 kg
Liftoff Thrust
5,800 Kilonewtons
Stages
3
Strap-ons
4
97th
Mission
4th
Mission of 2000
118th
Mission
5th
Mission of 2000
48th
Orbital launch attempt