Arianespace announced Monday its technicians now have completed the fueling process for the French Syracuse 3B military satellite. Its companion in the Ariane 5 ECA payload bay, the Japanese JCSAT-10 satellite, was completely fueled on Sunday. The dual payload heavy-lift mission currently is scheduled for Aug. 11.
The Syracuse 3B fueling occurred in the S5B hall of the Spaceport's large S5 payload preparation facility, designed to allow multiple satellites to be processed in parallel – even during hazardous operations such as fueling. JCSAT-10 was fueled in the adjacent S5A hall.
Syracuse 3B will have a liftoff mass of 3,700 kilograms (8,140 pounds) and will operate in the SHF (super high frequency) and EHF (extremely high frequency) bands.
Produced by Europe's Alcatel Alenia Space for the French DGA defense procurement agency, the satellite has been hardened to resist nuclear attack and is to offer significantly enhanced service in terms of data throughout and resistance to countermeasures.
JCSAT-10, to be operated by JSAT Corp. of Tokyo, is designed to provide supply fixed satellite services for Japan, the Asia-Pacific region and Hawai`i.
The 4,000-kilogram (8,800-pound) spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems in Newtown, Pa., and carries 30 Ku-band high-power transponders and 12C-band transponders. After its launch by Ariane 5, the satellite will be will be positioned at 128 degrees east longitude in geosynchronous orbit.
