GE-5

 1998-063B

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Ariane mission V113 was launched on 1998 Oct 28 from the ELA 2 (Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 2) at the Centre Spatial Guyanais (Kourou, Guyane francaise, South America). V113 was an Ariane 44L model with four strap-on PAL liquid boosters. 18 minutes after launch the LOX/LH2 third stage delivered the two satellite payloads to geostationary transfer orbit.

The upper payload was the first WorldSpace satellite, Afristar. Afristar will broadcast radio, text and video over Africa and the Middle East. Originally planned as a simple L-band satellite for radio broadcasts, the project has grown to include a much larger payload. The satellite is a Matra Marconi Space (Toulouse) Spacebus 2000, using a Marquardt R-4D apogee engine. Prime contractor for the combined satellite and comms payload is Alcatel. Dry mass of Afristar is 1216 kg; it carries 1523 kg of propellant at launch.

The lower payload is the GE-5 satellite, with C and Ku band transponders to augment the GE Americom system. GE Americom contracted with Daimler-Benz Aerospace/Dornier Satellitensystem GmbH/Friedrichshafen to provide the satellite in orbit. They in turn contracted Alcatel/Cannes to provide the Spacebus 2000 satellite, originally built as a backup for Argentina's Nahuelsat. Dry mass of GE 5 is 769 kg; it carries 950 kg of propellant at launch.

GE-5 is a Ku band satellite which will expand the GE Americom system. [898]. The satellite is an Aerospatiale Spacebus 2000. It was built by Alcatel/Cannes for Daimler-Benz Aerospace Dornier Satellitensystem GmbH/Friedrichshafen, which will provide launch and checkout services for GE Americom. The satellite was originally built as a backup Nahuelsat. Launch will be by Ariane 44L V113. Mass is 1719 kg launch, 1013 kg BOL, 769 kg dry.

GE-5 was later called AMC-5 and Americom 5. By 2010 it was in an inclined orbit and no longer suitable for DTH broadcasting; it was replaced by AMC-2 in that role but continued in service for other applications.

GE-5
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1998 Oct 28	2215	Launch by Ariane 44L V113	CSG ELA2
		T+2:30 PAL sep
		T+3:32 St 1 sep
		T+3:35 St 2 burn
		T+4:26 Fairing 01 sep
		T+5:43 St 2 sep
		T+5:48 St 3 burn
		T+18:42 St 2 cutoff
	2235	T+20:21 Afristar sep
	2236	T+21:31 SMS sep
	2238	T+23:30 GE-5 sep
	2243	T+28:36 V113 mission complete
1998 Oct 29			631.15 199 x 35791 x 6.5
1998 Nov 1			617.77 195 x 35103 x 6.5
1998 Nov 2?		LAM-1
1998 Nov 4	1500?	LAM-2
1998 Nov 4			1431.31 35525 x 35860 x 0.0 GEO 79.9W+1.1E
1998 Dec 16			1436.20 35779 x 35798 x 0.0 GEO 79.0W
1999 Jan 28			1436.13 35772 x 35801 x 0.0 GEO 79.1W
1999 Oct 31			1436.14 35754 x 35820 x 0.0 GEO 78.9W
2006 Aug 3			1436.14 35776 x 35798 x 0.0 GEO 79.0W
2011 Nov 29			1436.18 35764 x 35812 x 1.3 GEO 79.3W