MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina launches the three-ton ARSAT-2 telecommunications satellite

The satellite is the second in ARSAT project’s repertoire, following the launch of ARSAT-1 in October last year

Argentina on Wednesday launched the ARSAT-2 spacecraft from a site in French Guyana, with the goal of providing telecommunication services across much of the Western hemisphere. ARSAT (Argentine Satellite Solutions), a state-owned company created in 2006, monitored the launch and operation of ARSAT-2 from the Benavídez Ground Station in northern Buenos Aires province.

 This satellite is the second in the ARSAT project’s repertoire, following the launch of ARSAT-1 in October last year that saw Argentina join the United States, China, Russia, Japan, Israel, India and the European Union in the list of countries that have built and managed geostationary satellite programs autonomously.

Also on Wednesday Arianespace, the satellite launcher from French Guiana, announced the signature of a contract with ARSAT for a third operation and options until 2023.

ARSAT-2 weighs over three tons, and will allow the Argentine space telecommunications program that began with ARSAT-1 to provide countries in the Western hemisphere with direct-to-home television (DTH), Internet access services and data transmission, among other uses.

“The fact that we have launched two satellites, made in Argentina, and put them into Argentina's orbital positions, shows that we can achieve what was once a dream and is now a reality,” said Matías Bianchi Villelli, president of the state-owned company ARSAT.

Roughly US$250 million was invested into the design and construction of ARSAT2, made entirely in Argentina by state-owned companies ARSAT and INVAP.

“It is another step forward to what we here at ARSAT and in Argentina consider our goal: A Latin American satellite industry,” said Bianchi Villelli.

This new Argentine telecommunications satellite will have coverage over much of the Americas, from the Falklands Islands to as far north as the United States.

“I am enormously proud to be a part of this group of professionals that have carried out the ARSAT projects and to have the chance of putting together a team that will further develop Argentina's space industry,” said Juan Aurelio, ARSAT Operations Chief. “And why not promote it around the entire region.”

Arianespace announced on Wednesday that it has signed a contract with the Argentinean operator ARSAT to launch its next geostationary satellite, ARSAT-3, plus options on two more launches.

This strategic long-term agreement follows last year's successful launch of ARSAT-1 on October 16, 2014, Wednesday's ARSAT-2 and will cover Argentina's satellite launch requirements until 2023.

With a liftoff mass of approximately 3,000 kg., ARSAT-3 will be the first satellite launched, delivered to geostationary transfer orbit in 2019. It will be injected by an Ariane 5 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

The two options involve two geostationary satellites that are similar to ARSAT-3, and for which their launches are planned for the 2020-2023 timeframe.

These new ARSAT satellites will complement the services already offered by ARSAT-1 and soon ARSAT-2. They will provide a wide range of telecommunications services, including data transmission, telephony and television broadcasting.