Question 1

What rocket is launching Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B?

Accepted Answer

Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B is launching on the Ariane 5 ECA.

Question 2

Who is launching Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B?

Accepted Answer

Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B is being launched by Arianespace, a commercial launch provider founded in 1980.

Question 3

Where is Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B launching from?

Accepted Answer

Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B is launching from Ariane Launch Area 3 at Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.

Question 4

What orbit is Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B heading to?

Accepted Answer

Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B 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 Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B mission?

Accepted Answer

Hot Bird 10 is a French communications satellite operated by Eutelsat. It provides direct to home broadcasting from geostationary orbit at 13 degrees East. NSS9 is a communications satellite owned by SES, operating at 177 degrees West. Spirale is a French government programme to develop an early wanring system which will use infrared satellite imagery to detect the flights of ballistic missiles. This was a demonstration using two micro satellites.

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.

Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

Ariane Launch Area 3

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Frequently asked questions