Superbird 7 is Readied for Launch on Upcoming Ariane 5 Mission

(July 31, 2008) -- The Japanese Superbird 7 satellite for Space Communications Corporation has entered final pre-launch preparations for its heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission from the Spaceport in French Guiana during August.

This first "made in Japan" commercial satellite for a Japanese telecommunications operator has completed its fueling process, and is now installed on the cone-shaped adapter that serves as the interface with its Ariane 5 ECA.

Superbird 7 will be orbited along with SES AMERICOM's AMC-21 satellite on the fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2008. Built by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation on the company's DS2000 spacecraft bus, Superbird 7 carries a Ku-band relay payload and will be positioned at an orbital slot of 144 degrees East.

It will be the successor to Space Communications Corporation's current Superbird-C satellite, and is to provide a wide range of telecommunications services for the Tokyo-based operator with the spacecraft's enhanced performance.

Source : Arianespace

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