AFP,
Baikonur, Kazakhstan: The launching of a French military communications satellite, Syracuse 3A, is expected to take place before “end September”, an industry official said Saturday.
The satellite's ascent into orbit is expected to be carried out by the launch of an Ariane-5 rocket from the French space station in Kourou, French Guiana, Jean-Yves Le Gall, director of the Arianespace commercial launching company, said.
The same rocket is also expected to launch US telecommunications satellite Galaxy-15.
The lift-off should happen before the end of September if the Galaxy-15 is ready, Le Gall told a press conference in Baikonur, where the launch of Galaxy-14 by the Russian Soyuz is expected Sunday.
The launch of the Syracuse 3A, initially scheduled for May, had been postponed indefinitely to the irritation of the French defense ministry, for which the satellite's orbit is a priority this year.
The military communications satellite left France on May 4 for the launch base in Kourou after having aced its flight aptitude test.
The Syracuse system was developed in 1985, since which several versions of the satellite have been adopted.
Syracuse 3, a satellite packed with electronics reserved for the exclusive use of the French military, is designed to reinforce communications security and is said to be particularly effective against attempted interference.
