Shin Satellite To Launch Thaicom 5 This Friday

[george]

Shin Satellite To Launch Thaicom 5 - Fri

BANGKOK: -- Shin Satellite Plc said Wednesday it will launch its new satellite, Thaicom 5, this Friday from Kourou Space Center in French Guiana.

The new satellite, which cost approximately US$101 million, will be launched by France-based Arianespace, the same firm which launched iPSTAR, Shin Satellite's US$400-million broadband satellite, late last year.

The company said earlier that it plans to use long-term loans to finance most of the Thaicom 5 project. Part of the funding will also come from a US$33-million insurance claim from the temporary failure of transponders on its Thaicom 3 satellite.

Thaicom 5 will replace Thaicom 1 and Thaicom 2, scheduled for retirement in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Thaicom 5 will provide broadcasting, telecommunication and broadband services.

Source: The Nation

[Jai Dee]

Thaicom 5 launch set for May 26

The Thaicom 5 communications satellite has been scheduled for launch on May 26 by an Ariane 5 rocket.

The satellite arrived at the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana last April 22.

Thaicom 5, the second satellite built by Alcatel Alenia Space for Thailand, was made for Thai satellite operator Shin Satellite Inc.

Positioned at 78.5 degrees East, Thaicom 5 will provide broadband telecom and broadcast transmission services, as well as allow Shin Satellite to replace the Thaicom 1 and 2 satellites, which will reach the end of their service lives by 2008 and 2009, respectively.

It will also boost Ku-band transmission capacity for Thailand and neighboring countries.

The Thaicom 5 satellite is based on the Spacebus platform, which has logged extensive experience in orbit. It will weigh about 2,800kg at launch, offering a total power of 5kW, with 14 Ku-band and 24 K-band channels.

Source: Telecomasia.net