Operator
Hispamar Satelites S.A.Manufacturer
Hispamar Satelites S.A.Astra 5B/Amazonas 4A
3/22/2014
Amazonas 4A's Ku-band payload will generate approximately 5.0 kilowatts of payload power and the spacecraft is designed for a 15-year mission life.
Arianespace designated the dual-satellite mission with ASTRA 5B and Amazonas 4A as Flight VA216 in its launcher family numbering system.
As of February 13, 2014, Arianespace scheduled the VA216 Ariane 5 liftoff with Amazonas 4A for March 7, 2014.
As of February 14, 2014, Arianespace postponed the VA216 launch originally scheduled for March 7, 2014 to allow Hispasat to perform additional checks on Amazonas 4A.
Amazonas 4A is equipped with 24 Ku-band active transponders and has a reported liftoff mass of approximately 3,000 kg.
The VA216 mission configuration placed ASTRA 5B in the Ariane 5 upper payload position and Amazonas 4A in the lower payload position for deployment during a 34-minute flight sequence.
As of December 19, 2013, Arianespace scheduled VA216 to place ASTRA 5B and AMAZONAS 4A into orbit on February 19, 2014.
As of November 13, 2013, Hispasat informed that Amazonas 4A required additional verifications and that the Ariane 5 VA216 launch was postponed.