First geostationary satellite built in Argentina

The first geostationary satellite built in Argentina – ARSAT-1 – has been delivered to French Guiana, where the spacecraft will be readied for Arianespace’s dual-passenger Ariane 5 mission in mid-October.

Transported by a chartered An-124 cargo jetliner, ARSAT-1 landed at Félix Eboué International Airport near French Guiana's capital city of Cayenne. The satellite was then unloaded for transfer by road to a Guiana Space Center clean room facility, where it is to undergo pre-launch processing.

ARSAT-1 was produced for Argentine satellite operator ARSAT (Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales Sociedad Anonima) by the company INVAP, with Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space as leading equipment suppliers. This spacecraft will deliver a wide range of telecommunications, data transmission, telephone and television services across all of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay – operating from an orbital position
of 72 degrees West on the Earth's equator.

ARSAT-1 will be orbited along with its co-passenger, Intelsat DLA-1. Built for international operator Intelsat by Space Systems/Loral, DLA-1 is to greatly expand direct-to-home entertainment offerings in Latin America, as well as provide backup and restoration services.