The launch readiness review (RAL) took place in Kourou on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 and authorised count-down operations for the RASCOM-QAF1 & HORIZONS 2 launch. Arianespaces sixth launch of 2007 will orbit two telecommunications satellites: RASCOM 1, built by Thales Alenia Space for RascomStar-QAF, the Regional African Satellite Communication Organization, and Horizons-2, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation for Horizons 2 Satellite LLC, a joint venture between Intelsat and JSAT. It will be launched from the Ariane launch complex N°3 (ELA3), in Kourou, French Guiana. THE ARIANE 5 "GS" LAUNCHER LIFT-OFF for this flight is scheduled during the night of December 20 to 21, 2007 as soon as possible within the following launch window:
GMT: From 9:14 p.m. to 9:58 p.m. on December 20, 2007. PARIS: From 10:14 p.m. to 10:58 p.m. on December 20, 2007. WASHINGTON: From 04:14p.m. to 04:58 p.m. on December 20, 2007. KOUROU: From 06:14 p.m. to 06:58 p.m. on December 20, 2007. TOKYO: From 06:14 a.m. to 06:58 a.m. on December 20, 2007.
Thales Alenia Space says it has transferred the Rascom-1 telecom satellite to Kourou, French Guiana, where it is to be launched with Intelsat/JSAT Horizons-2 in Arianespace's sixth and final 2007 Ariane 5 mission in December. Intended to provide urban/rural and international telephone service, broadcasting and Internet service across Africa, the 6.4 kW 3.2-metric ton satellite carries 12 Ku- and eight C-band transponders. Owned by RascomStarQAF of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Rascom-1 will be the first indigenous pan-African fixed satellite service spacecraft and only the second after Nigcomsat-1, launched in May on a Chinese Long March 3B.
Thales Alenia Space & Arianespace announced the signature of the launch Service & Solutions contract for the 1st pan-African communications satellite, RASCOM 1, dedicated to the African continent.
The Rascom 1 satellite is due to be launched in April 2006 by the Chinese launch service provider China Great Wall Industry Corp. It is planned to be launched atop a Long March rocket.
Rascom-1 the first African satellite telecommunication system will offer the capability to provide fixed voice, data telecommunications and Internet access as well as broadcasting satellite services to the whole African continent, although its footprint extends beyond Africa to include part of Europe and of the Middle East.
RASCOM representing the interests of 44 African telecommunications operators.