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| Skynet 5D |
Skynet 5D, a powerful military communications satellite created and designed by Astrium, is set to lift off on Wednesday, December 19 from the European Spaceport at Kourou (French Guiana)
Owned and operated by Astrium Services since 2007 for the UK Ministry of Defence through a Private Finance Initiative, this new satellite is said to be the fourth of the Skynet 5 military communications system. Skynet 5D is the final piece in the multi billion-pound system of UK which will join the three existing Skynet 5 satellites. This spacecraft will boost Astrium Services’ secure satellite communications service offering to the UK, enabling the military and other Allied armed forces to stay connected wherever they are deployed around the world.
Because Skynet is a military system, the new satellite is tailor suited to avoid eavesdropping and enemy jamming, and as such includes a number of classified technologies.
The 79-minute launch window of Skynet 5D opens at 21.49 GMT (18.49 local time in Kourou). This flight is said to be a double launch, and will also carry the communications satellite MEXSAT-Bicentenario.
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