Arianespace Flight VS17, SES 15

Arianespaces workhorse Soyuz launch vehicle successfully delivered SES15 an allelectric telecommunications satellite for operation by Europeanbased SES to a subgeostationary transfer orbit. The flight, designated VS17 in Arianespaces launcher family numbering system, lasted 5 hrs. , 18 min. from the precise liftoff at 08:54:53 a. m. (local time in French Guiana) to payload separation. It carried SES first satellite lofted by the mediumlift Soyuz launcher and the 40th overall for the operator laun