WildBlue-1 has begun its pre-launch checkout at the Spaceport following the satellite’s arrival in French Guiana this week.
The satellite is one of the world’s first all Ka-band commercial spacecraft, and will be used by Colorado-based WildBlue Communications, Inc. to provide direct two-way wireless Internet access to homes and small offices in the contiguous United States.
The Mission Update on Arianespace’s Website highlights WildBlue-1’s arrival and has the latest information on the upcoming mission — which will be Arianespace’s fifth dual-satellite heavy-lift flight in 2006.