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A plane Airbus BelugaST landed on the Kennedy Space Center to deliver a new HOTBIRD 13G satellite built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Airbus Foto Photos
A special plane landed at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida this weekend: the Airbus Beluga ST (A300-600ST). This happened a few hours after his twin, HOTBIRD 13F, was successfully launched by a SpaceX Falcon rocket 9.
The spacecraft are the first members of the new “Eurostar Neo” family of telecommunications satellites. Airbus, based on a new generation platform and technologies developed with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and others, including the Center National d’ Space Studies (CNES) and the UK Space Agency (UKSA).
This milestone also marks the first time since 2009 that the Beluga visits the USA, when transporting the European “Tranquility” module of the International Space Station. For this last mission, the Beluga used a 30% sustainable aviation fuel (PURE) for your departure flight from Toulouse, reflecting Airbus decarbonisation ambitions.
“It is a true honor to consecutively exhibit two satellites for our client Eutelsat: two pieces of European technology at the iconic Kennedy Space Center”, said Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Space Systems at Airbus. “Airbus' ability to implement an autonomous European solution is underlined by the transport of our satellites on the unique Beluga aircraft., a true example of pan-Airbus synergies!!”
Once they reach their orbital position, these two satellites, with more efficient power and thermal control systems than its predecessors, may transmit more than 1.000 tv channels in europe, North Africa and the Middle East. They will also enhance Eutelsat's ability to provide connectivity to more than 135 millions of people, as they replace three Eutelsat satellites currently in orbit.
With the arrival of the new BelugaXL, based on the larger A330-200 platform, the existing BelugaST fleet is progressively available for large freight forwarding services globally. Since the launch of the new service Airbus Beluga Transport in january, BelugaST has performed missions for various clients around the world.
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