* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Syracuse 3B Satellite

Blobrana · L

Arianespace will be sending two satellites into geostationary transfer orbit on its third mission of the year: the JCSAT-10 communications satellite for Japanese operator JSAT Corporation, and the Syracuse 3B communications satellite for the French Ministry of Defence.

Launch window:
GMT: Between 10:15pm and 11:52pm on August 11, 2006.
PARIS: Between 00:15am and 01:52am on August 12, 2006.
WASHINGTON: Between 06:15pm and 07:52pm on August 11, 2006.
KOUROU: Between 07:15pm and 08:52pm on August 11, 2006.
TOKYO: Between 07:15am and 08:52am on August 12, 2006.

Blobrana · L

Arianespace's upcoming Ariane 5 ECA launch is scheduled for August 11, and will carry France's Syracuse 3B military relay platform, along with the civilian JCSAT-10 telecommunications spacecraft for Japan's JSAT Corp.

Both satellites are currently undergoing their final check-out in the S5 satellite preparation facility at Europe's Spaceport. The facility enables multiple spacecraft to be readied at the same time - with the ability to process sensitive satellites such as military payloads under conditions of total security.

Syracuse 3B will have a liftoff mass of 3,700 kilograms and will operate in the SHF (super high frequency) and EHF (extremely high frequency) bands.

Blobrana · L

The new-generation military communications satellite Syracuse 3B, built by Alcatel Alenia Space as prime contractor for the French Defence procurement agency (DGA), arrived today in Kourou, French Guiana, for launch by an Ariane 5 ECA on August 11, 2006.

Syracuse 3B will join the Syracuse 3A satellite, launched on October 13, 2005, to complete the Syracuse III system. Syracuse III is the first military satellite of its generation that combines broadband capacity, flexibility, easy reconfigurability and highly secure connections, along with a dedicated ground control segment. France's Syracuse system is up and running, providing permanent connections between military and political authorities at home and operating units deployed around the world.

The Syracuse III system is the most complete defence solution of its kind, covering both voice communications and the secure data transmission. It supports a wide range of new services, including telephony services, access to military intranets and videoconferencing, plus network interconnections and interoperability between the allied forces.

In addition, this high-performance system is open to collaborative use, and allows both Germany and NATO to share Syracuse 3A resources. Like Syracuse 3A, the latest Syracuse 3B satellite is based on Alcatel Alenia Space's commercial Spacebus platform, reinforced to resist nuclear attack. It features a state-of-the-art payload operating in the SHF (super high frequency) and EHF (extremely high frequency) bands. The system delivers significantly improved service, in terms of both data rates and resistance to countermeasures.

Alcatel Alenia Space is the European leader in space defence systems, providing solutions covering telecommunication, observation, navigation and early warning applications.

Blobrana · L

France will launch the Syracuse 3B military communications satellite, on August 11, 2006, from Kourou, French Guiana.

"The launch of the Syracuse 3B by an Ariane 5 ECA rocket carrying a Japanese communications satellite is scheduled for August 11" - Caroline Laurent, head of the Syracuse program at the French weapons agency (DGA).

Syracuse 3B is similar to Syracuse 3A that was launched last October. Syracuse 3B IS heavier at 3,700 kilos at lift-off compared with 2,700 kilos for the 3A.
The 2.3 billion euros Syracuse 3 program, will be available for use by NATO.
The satellites are expected to last 14 years.