Question 1

What rocket is launching Eutelsat 65 West A?

Accepted Answer

Eutelsat 65 West A is launching on the Ariane 5 ECA.

Question 2

Who is launching Eutelsat 65 West A?

Accepted Answer

Eutelsat 65 West A is being launched by Arianespace, a commercial launch provider founded in 1980.

Question 3

Where is Eutelsat 65 West A launching from?

Accepted Answer

Eutelsat 65 West A is launching from Ariane Launch Area 3 at Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.

Question 4

What orbit is Eutelsat 65 West A heading to?

Accepted Answer

Eutelsat 65 West A is heading to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

Question 5

Is the Ariane 5 ECA reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Ariane 5 ECA is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Ariane 5 ECA flown?

Accepted Answer

The Ariane 5 ECA has launched 73 times to date, with 71 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the Eutelsat 65 West A mission?

Accepted Answer

Located at 65 degrees west in GEO, Eutelsat 65 West A will contain 15 C-Band, 24 Ku-band and 24 Ka-Band transponders to provide coverage for Brazil and Latin America. Based on the SSL-1300 platform the satellite weights 6600kg and is powered by 2 solar arrays.

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.

Eutelsat 65 West A

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

Ariane Launch Area 3

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Frequently asked questions