SaudiGeoSat-1/HellasSat-4
SaudiGeoSat 1/HellasSat 4, also known as SaudiGeoSat 1/HellasSat 4 (abbreviated SGS-1/HS-4), is a Saudi and Greek geostationary communication satellite of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and HellasSat. It was built by Lockheed Martin and was launched on 5 February 2019 on board Ariane flight VA247.
| Names | HellasSat 4, SaudiGeoSat 1, SaudiGeostationarySatellite 1, SGS-1/HS-4 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Telecommunications |
| Operator | KACST, Hellas Sat |
| COSPAR ID | 2019-007A |
| SATCAT no. | 44034 |
| Mission duration | 15 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | A2100 |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Launch mass | 6495 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 5 February 2019 |
| Rocket | Ariane flight VA247 |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-3 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geosynchronous orbit |
| Longitude | 39.0° East |
The satellite will provide Telecommunications capabilities, including television, Internet, telephone and secure communications in the Middle East, South Africa and Europe. It is the 16th Saudi satellite launched into space[1][2][3] and the 4th Greek and Cypriot satellite.
Manufacturing
SGS-1 satellite was developed, manufactured and tested by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with KACST where 11 Saudi engineers were trained and certified by Lockheed Martin.[2]
Launch and Specification
SGS-1/HS-4 was launched on an Ariane 5 operated by Arianespace from the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana on Ariane flight VA247.[1]
The satellite weighted 6,495 kg (14,319 lb) fully fuelled for launch, and it was placed into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). It will maintain a geosynchronous orbit at 39.0° East longitude.[4]
References
- "Ariane Flight VA247". Arianespace. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- "Saudi Arabia to launch 16th satellite into space". Arab News. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- Lockheed Martin Completes Hellas-Sat-4/SaudiGeoSat-1 Satellite Assembly and Ships to Environmental Testing Lockheed Martin 30 November 2017
- Clark, Stephen. "Live coverage: Ariane 5 set to launch satellites for Saudi Arabia and India". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 5 February 2019.