Lockheed Martin Launches HotBird 6 on First Atlas 5

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Lockheed Martin Launches HotBird 6 on First Atlas 5

More Information:

Lockheed Martin’s inaugural Atlas 5 successfully launched HotBird 6 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, pad 41, at 2205 UTC on August 21. The satellite will be positioned at 13°E. Hot Bird 6 will replace Hot Bird 5, and will also free capacity on HotBird 4. Financial details were not disclosed, though is was likely highly discounted because it was a first flight.

Atlas 5 development was funded by Lockheed Martin and the USAF. It is part of the USAF EELV (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle) program, which includes the Delta 4 being developed by Boeing. Atlas 5 will replace earlier Atlas and Titan 4 models. The rocket uses a Russian-made RD-180 main engine and stretched Centaur upper stage with a Pratt & Whitney RL-10 engine.

There will be three models of Atlas 5 rockets, 400 series, 500 series and Heavy, each dedicated to launching different mass classes of satellites into orbit. The 400 series will use a four-meter diameter payload shroud; the 500 series a five-meter fairing. The Heavy is a future Atlas 5 version, which will use 3 cores.

Designated flight AV-001, the rocket was in the 401 configuration. The 401 translates to an Atlas 5 with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and one RL-10 engine on the Centaur upper stage capable of lofting 4951 kg (10,913 lbm) to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The booster stage was 32.5 m (106.6 ft) long and 3.8 m (12.5 ft) in diameter. Other Atlas 5 400 series variations are capable of carrying: 411: 5951 kg (13,117 lbm); 421: 6832 kg (15,057 lbm); 431: 7642 kg (16,843 lbm).

The Atlas 5 500 series capabilities to geosynchronous transfer orbit are: 501: 3971 kg (8,752 lbm); 511: 5271 kg (11,618 lbm); 521: 6287 kg (13,856 lbm); 531: 7202 kg (15,873 lbm); 541: 7982 kg (17,593 lbm); and 551: 8672 kg (19,114 lbm).

Atlas 5 has a backlog of 10 flights, and up to 30 options, with the next launch planned for December. The first Air Force mission is expected in 2004. There remain 7 Atlas 2s and 7 Atlas 3s scheduled to fly through 2005.

The 3898 kg (8591 lbm) HotBird 6 is an Alcatel Spacebus 3000B3 satellite carrying 28 Ku-band transponders and 4 Ka-band transponders. The satellite was designed for a 12 year life, with 10.500 kW of power BOL, 9.000 kW power EOL. It will provide television and radio broadcast services to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. HotBird 6 is owned and operated by Eutelsat. Eutlesat ordered the spacecraft from Alcatel Space in October 1999, and signed the launch contract in May 2000.

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August 21, 2002