| Skynet 5D | |
| Mission Type: | Military communications |
| Operator: | Astrium Services On behalf of British Ministry of Defence |
| Cospar Id: | 2012-075A |
| Mission Duration: | 15 years |
| Spacecraft Bus: | Eurostar 3000S |
| Manufacturer: | Astrium |
| Launch Date: | UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Ariane 5ECA VA211 |
| Launch Site: | Kourou ELA-3 |
| Launch Contractor: | Arianespace |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary |
| Orbit Longitude: | 53° East |
| Apsis: | gee |
Skynet 5D is a military communications satellite operated by Airbus Defence and Space on behalf of the British Ministry of Defence. It was the last of four Skynet 5 satellites to be launched.
The Skynet 5D spacecraft was constructed by Astrium, based on the Eurostar 3000S satellite bus. It had a mass at launch of approximately, and is designed to operate for at least 15 years.[1] Its 34m (112feet) solar arrays will generate a minimum of 6 kilowatts[2] to power its UHF and X-band communications systems. The satellite's payload includes jamming countermeasures.[3]
The Ministry of Defence described the satellite as having a "key role in gathering intelligence on operations", as well as communications.[4]
Skynet 5D was launched by an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket flying from ELA-3 at Kourou. The launch occurred at 21:49 UTC on 19 December 2012.[5] Skynet 5D was one of two satellites aboard the rocket, the other being Mexsat Bicentenario, which was located below it; Skynet 5D was mounted atop a Sylda 5 adaptor.[2]
The launch placed Skynet 5D into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which was planned to raise itself into geostationary orbit.[5] The spacecraft was expected to be placed at a longitude of 25 degrees East.[2]