Skynet 5D is a military

communications satellite A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth. C ...

operated by

Airbus Defence and Space Airbus Defence and Space is the division of Airbus SE responsible for the development and manufacturing of the corporation's defence and space products, while also providing related services. The division was formed in January 2014 during the ...

on behalf of the British

Ministry of Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...

. It was the last of four Skynet 5 satellites to be launched.

Spacecraft

The Skynet 5D spacecraft was constructed by Astrium, based on the Eurostar 3000S

satellite bus A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held. Bus-derived satellites are opposed to specially produced satellites. Bus-d ...

. It had a mass at launch of approximately , and is designed to operate for at least 15 years. Its

solar array A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is an electric power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and co ...

s will generate a minimum of 6 kilowatts to power its UHF and X-band communications systems. The satellite's payload includes jamming countermeasures. The Ministry of Defence described the satellite as having a "key role in gathering intelligence on operations", as well as communications.

Launch

Skynet 5D was launched by an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket flying from ELA-3 at Kourou. The launch occurred at 21:49 UTC on 19 December 2012. Skynet 5D was one of two satellites aboard the rocket, the other being

Mexsat Bicentenario Mexsat-3, also known as Mexsat Bicentenario or simply Bicentenario, is the first of three Mexican satellites forming the MEXSAT telecommunications network, and is named to commemorate the bicentennial of the Independence of Mexico. It was launched ...

, which was located below it; Skynet 5D was mounted atop a

Sylda 5 Sylda is a village and a former municipality in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Arnstein Arnstein () is a town in the Main-Spessart district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of ...

adaptor.

Orbit

The launch placed Skynet 5D into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which was planned to raise itself into

geostationary orbit A geostationary orbit, also referred to as a geosynchronous equatorial orbit''Geostationary orbit'' and ''Geosynchronous (equatorial) orbit'' are used somewhat interchangeably in sources. (GEO), is a circular geosynchronous orbit in altitud ...

. The spacecraft was expected to be placed at a longitude of 25 degrees East.

References

Military satellites Satellites of the United Kingdom Spacecraft launched in 2012 Satellites using the Eurostar bus Spacecraft launched by Ariane rockets {{UK-spacecraft-stub