launch « Convergence Partners

New Dawn Satellite, a picture-perfect lift-off

April 28th, 2011 | admin

On 22 April 2011 Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of fixed satellite services, announced that Arianespace successfully launched the Intelsat New Dawn satellite. The Ariane 5 vehicle lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana, at 5:37 p.m. (EDT), followed by spacecraft separation from the launch vehicle at 6:12 p.m. and signal acquisition at 6:29 p.m.
The Intelsat New Dawn satellite is owned by a joint venture between a consortium led by Convergence Partners and Intelsat. The satellite’s 28 C-band and 24 Ku-band 36 MHz transponder units are designed specifically to supply critical communications infrastructure for African customers, who have experienced exceptional growth along with the development of the region.

Tags: Africa, Andile Ngcaba, Arianespace, Convergence Partners, Intelsat, launch, New Dawn, satellite
Posted in Media, News from the Group, Offical Press Releases

New Dawn Satellite Launch Rescheduled for April 22!

April 12th, 2011 | admin

Convergence Partners is pleased to announce that the New Dawn Satellite has been rescheduled to Friday, April 22 at 17:37 p.m. (EDT) 23:37 p.m (SA time). The satellite, loaded on an Ariane 5 rocket, will be launched from the Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Tags: Ariane 5, automated checkout, cryogenic, detected, French Guiana, Kourou, launch, mission, New Dawn, parameter, Rescheduled, Rocket, satellite, Spaceport
Posted in Media, News from the Group, Offical Press Releases

7 days until New Dawn lift-off! Satellite attached to Ariane 5 rocket

March 23rd, 2011 | admin

One week to go to the launch, final preparations are taking place in French Guiana. Update on recent New Dawn activity:
22 March 2011
Technicians from manufacturer, Orbital Sciences Corporation, attached the satellite lift sling to Intelsat New Dawn and handed over the crane operations to launch provider, Arianespace. They lifted the satellite over 100 feet in the air and attached it to the top of the Ariane 5 launcher. Once the satellite was secured onto the adapter, the Orbital technicians powered up the satellite to verify its health. Everything is right on schedule for the 30th of March 2011 launch and the satellite is healthy!

Tags: Ariane, French Guiana, geosynchronous orbit, Intelsat, launch, lift-off, New Dawn, Orbital, satellite
Posted in Media, News from the Group

New Dawn Satellite Testing Begins at Guiana Space Center

March 7th, 2011 | admin

The Intelsat New Dawn satellite left Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C., at 9 pm EST on Monday, 28 February, aboard Antonov, the largest transport aircraft in the world. After a six-hour flight, the airplane arrived at Rochambeau airport in Cayenne, French Guiana at 5 am local time on Tuesday, 1 March.
After settling down in the tarmac, the Antonov dramatically flipped up its nose, revealing the shipping container with Intelsat New Dawn inside. A rail system slid the shipping container out of the Antonov and a specially-designed crane loaded it onto a flat bed truck. The loading went smoothly and the spacecraft was ready to be transported to the Guiana Space Center (CSG) around 9 am. Darkness and occasional heavy rain made taking photos and travel a real challenge. The journey of approximately 60 miles took about 2 hours.

Tags: Cayenne, French Guiana, Guiana Space Center, Intelsat, launch, New Dawn, Orbital, satellite
Posted in Media, News from the Group

New Dawn Satellite arrives in French Guiana!

March 1st, 2011 | admin

With only 28 days until launch, the Intelsat New Dawn Satellite was shipped overnight from Washington D.C. to Cayenne, French Guiana. The satellite recently left the Orbital Sciences Corporation manufacturing facility in Dulles, Virginia, and was flown on an Antonov airplane, arriving early morning local time in Cayenne. It will then be transported to Kourou, where it will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket on 29 March 2011.
See the attached picture of the satellite being loaded for flight from the USA to French Guiana.

Tags: Ariane 5, Arianespace, Cayenne, Dulles, French Guiana, Intelsat, Kourou, launch, New Dawn, Orbital, satellite, Virginia, Washington
Posted in Uncategorized

New Dawn Launch Countdown: 40 Days to go!

February 17th, 2011 | admin

We are in the final countdown stages of the landmark New Dawn Satellite project, a joint venture between Convergence Partners and Intelsat.
Visit www.intelsatnewdawn.com for countdown clock and regular updates!

Tags: Countdown, Intelsat New Dawn, launch, satellite
Posted in Media, News from the Group

New Dawn satellite set to launch on 29 March 2011!

February 17th, 2011 | admin

The Intelsat New Dawn satellite is scheduled to be launched on 29 March 2011 from Arianespace’s launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. Intelsat New Dawn is the first ever African private sector communications satellite.
A joint-venture between a consortium led by Convergence Partners and Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of fixed satellite services, the New Dawn satellite and its 28 C-band and 24 Ku-band 36 MHz transponder units are designed specifically to supply critical communications infrastructure for African customers. Operating from a geostationary orbital slot at 32.8 degrees East, Intelsat New Dawn will be ideally positioned to serve Africa through a payload optimized to deliver wireless backhaul, broadband and media content – the fastest growing satellite-based applications in Africa.

New Dawn Satellite on track for lift-off in Q1 2011

June 28th, 2010 | admin

Convergence Partners recently visited in Washington, DC and had the opportunity to spend time with New Dawn joint venture partner, Intelsat, and to see the New Dawn craft in advanced stages of construction, at the premises of craft manufacturer, Orbital Sciences Corporation.