* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Rascom-QAF 1R satellite

Blobrana · L

An Ariane rocket has launched from French Guiana's Kourou spaceport.
It was carrying two communications satellites that will provide broadcast services in the Middle East and rural Africa.
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Blobrana · L

NILESAT 201 satellite

Blobrana · L

RE: Rascom-QAF 1R satellite

Blobrana · L

Live webcast

Blobrana · L

The Launch Readiness Review (RAL) took place in Kourou on Monday, August 2, 2010 and authorised count-down operations for the NILESAT 201 & RASCOM-QAF1R.
For its third launch of the year, Arianespace will orbit the NILESAT 201 direct broadcast satellite for the Egyptian operator Nilesat, and the RASCOM-QAF1R communications satellite for pan-African operator RascomStar-QAF. Both satellites were built by Thales Alenia Space. The choice of Arianespace by leading space communications operators and manufacturers is clear international recognition of the company's excellence in launch services. It will be launched from the Ariane launch complex N° 3 (ELA3), in Kourou, French Guiana.

UTC / GMT	Paris	Kourou	Washington	Cairo, Egypt	Port-Louis (Mauritius)
Between 8:45 p.m. and 11:34 p.m. on August 4, 2010	Between 10:45 p.m. and 1:34 a.m. on August 4/5, 2010	Between 5:45 p.m. and 8:34 p.m. on August 4, 2010	Between 04:45 p.m. and 07:34 p.m. on August 4, 2010	Between 11:45 p.m. and 2:34 a.m. on August 4/5, 2010	Between 00:45 a.m. and 3:34 a.m. on August 5, 2010

Source Arianespace

Blobrana · L

The Ariane 5 for Arianespace's third mission in 2010 is ready to enter the final launch preparation phase, during which this heavy-lift vehicle will receive its dual-satellite payload.
Scheduled for liftoff from the Spaceport on August 4, this Ariane 5 ECA will carry a pair of Thales Alenia Space-produced spacecraft: NILESAT 201 and RASCOM-QAF1R. Both satellites have been undergoing processing following their June arrival in French Guiana.

Launch Window for Ariane Flight V196 with RASCOM-QAF 1R & NILESAT 201

Universal time (GMT)

Paris,
France

Kourou,
French Guiana

Cairo,
Egypt

Port-Louis
(Mauritius)

Between 8:45 p.m.
and 11:34 p.m.

on August 4, 2010

Between 10:45 p.m.
and 1:34 a.m.

on August 4/5, 2010

Between 5:45 p.m.
and 8:34 p.m.

on August 4, 2010

Between 11:45 p.m.
and 2:34 a.m.

on August 4/5, 2010

Between 00:45 a.m.
and 3:34 a.m.

on August 5, 2010

Source

Blobrana · L

Nilesat launch scheduled for August 3

Arianespace announced that the Nilesat and RascomStar-QAF satellites have arrived at the Spaceport for Ariane 5's third launch this year, scheduled for August 3.
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Blobrana · L

Arianespace to launch new pan-African satellite Rascom-QAF 1R
Arianespace and Thales Alenia Space today announced the signature of the launch Service & Solutions contract for the pan-African communications satellite, Rascom-QAF 1R.
Rascom-QAF 1R is scheduled for launch into geostationary transfer orbit in 2010. It will be launched by an Ariane 5 or Soyuz rocket from Europes Spaceport in French Guiana.
Rascom-QAF 1R, built by Thales Alenia Space as part of a turnkey contract with the Regional African Satellite Communication Organization (RascomStar-QAF), will provide telecommunication services in rural areas of Africa over a period of 15 years, along with domestic and international connections, direct TV broadcast services and Internet access.

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