Hot Bird 7 was a French communications satellite. Intended for operation by Eutelsat, it was to have provided direct-to-home broadcasting services from geostationary orbit as part of Eutelsat's Hot Bird constellation. Hot Bird 7 was intended to replace the Hot Bird 3 satellite which had been launched in 1997.

The Stentor (Satellite de Télécommunications pour Expérimenter les Nouvelles Technologies en Orbite) technological satellite is a French experimental programme to validate, in flight, advanced technologies which would be integrated into the next generation of telecommunications spacecraft. This program will bring French competence to the highest level, both for the prime contractors and the equipment manufacturers, and the ultimate is to improve France's competitive position in the export market. It is supported by CNES (French Space Agency), France Telecom (French Telecommunications Operator), and DGA (Ministry of Defence).

6 Modular Fitting Dummies (MFD) ring-shaped 700 kg modules were primarily designed to adapt the payload mass of the first flight of the new Ariane-5ECA in October 2002 to the new powerful performance. They were manufactured by Kayser-Threde.

The set of six 700 kg Modular Fitting Dummies (MFD) had been shipped to Kourou in June 2002. It consists of four MFD 500 and two MFD 325 (the figure indicating the ring's height in mm). The modules can be reduced in mass by 150 kg each by removing trim masses. The concept of modular dummies allows Arianespace to respond to the respective flight configuration of an upcoming launch. The MFDs remain attached to the upper stage or the upper part of the SYLDA-5 adapter.