DirecTV-9S, Optus D1, LDREX-2

Ariane 5 ECA flight V173 lofted DIRECTV 9S, a broadcast satellite for the contiguous US, Alaska and Hawaii, and Optus D1, serving communications and broadcast needs over Australia and New Zealand, plus JAXA's LDREX-2 antenna-deployment demo.

Outcome

Success

Orbit

GTO

Geostationary transfer orbit

Payload to orbit

8.4 T

Flight

7th

of 73 Ariane 5 ECA flights

Date and time

13 October 2006, 20:56 UTC

Rocket

Ariane 5 ECA

Builder

ArianeGroup

Launch site

Ariane Launch Area 3, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Payload

Dedicated Rideshare

International designator

2006-043

Launches in 2006

46th of 66

See it in orbit

Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.

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