DirecTV-9S, Optus D1 & LDREX-2

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

20:56:00

Friday October 13, 2006

Mission Details

Read Article

Launch Notes

Flight V173.

Optus D1

Wiki

Optus is an Australian telecommunications company. Optus has the largest network of satellites in Australia and New Zealand.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

2,350 kilograms

DirecTV-9S

Wiki

The DirecTV satellite fleet is a group of communications satellites located at various geostationary orbits for the DirecTV satellite television service and HughesNet (formerly known as DirecWAY and DirecPC) internet service. DirecTV-9S is an in-orbit spare for DirecTV-4S and does not presently broadcast any channels.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

5,501 kilograms

LDREX-2

Wiki

The LDREX (Large-scale Deployable Reflector Experiment Model) is a small partial model antenna built to validate the design of the ETS-8's Large Deployable Antenna, and will conduct experiments to solve various technical problems that the ETS-8 is facing. LDREX lifetime is around 20 minutes.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

212 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Ariane 5 ECA

Active 2002 to 2023

European Space Agency logo

Manufacturer

ESA

Price

$200.00 million

Rocket

Diameter: 5.4m

Height: 53m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 21,000 kg

GTO: 10,500 kg

Liftoff Thrust

15,120 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 5.4m

Height: 17m

Stages

2

Strap-ons

2

Launch Site

ELA-3

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

24 days 3 hours

Stats

Ariane 5


29th

Mission

4th

Mission of 2006

European Space Agency


161st

Mission

4th

Mission of 2006

2006


46th

Orbital launch attempt