Name: PAS 6 — Ariane 44P
Start: 1997-08-08T06:46:00Z
End: 1997-08-08T06:46:00Z
Location: Ariane Launch Area 2

Question 1

What rocket is launching PAS 6?

Accepted Answer

PAS 6 is launching on the Ariane 44P.

Question 2

Who is launching PAS 6?

Accepted Answer

PAS 6 is being launched by Arianespace, a commercial launch provider founded in 1980.

Question 3

Where is PAS 6 launching from?

Accepted Answer

PAS 6 is launching from Ariane Launch Area 2 at Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.

Question 4

What orbit is PAS 6 heading to?

Accepted Answer

PAS 6 is heading to Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO).

Question 5

Is the Ariane 44P reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Ariane 44P is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Ariane 44P flown?

Accepted Answer

The Ariane 44P has launched 15 times to date, with 15 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the PAS 6 mission?

Accepted Answer

Three of the most powerful broadcast satellites ever launched that are capable of direct-to-home (DTH) service are providing DTH programming to millions of consumers of PanAmSat. They were designed and built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L). PanAmSat-6 (PAS-6) provides quality digital television to customers in South America.

Question 8

Where is the Guiana Space Centre?

Accepted Answer

The Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais) is Europe's spaceport, near Kourou in French Guiana on the north-east coast of South America. It has been operational since 1968.

Question 9

Who operates the Guiana Space Centre?

Accepted Answer

France's space agency CNES runs the site, the European Space Agency (ESA) owns the launch infrastructure, and Arianespace operates the launch services.

Question 10

Which rockets launch from Kourou?

Accepted Answer

Current launches fly Ariane 6 from the ELA-4 complex and the lighter Vega-C from its dedicated pad. The James Webb Space Telescope launched from here on an Ariane 5 in 2021.

Question 11

Why launch from French Guiana?

Accepted Answer

Sitting just 5° north of the equator, the spaceport gives rockets a strong eastward boost from Earth's rotation and a clear path out over the Atlantic — a major advantage for reaching the geostationary orbits many large satellites need.

PAS 6

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

Ariane Launch Area 2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Frequently asked questions