ARIANESPACE

Ariane 42L | PAS 6B

SUCCESS Ariane 42L →
Dec 22, 1998 at 01:08 UTC
Geostationary Orbit Communications Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana 100% success
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Live Orbit
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Mission Control3D trajectory · Live telemetry · AI narrator · Booster tracking
PADAriane Launch Area 2
SITEGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana →
ORBITGeostationary Orbit
TYPECommunications

In March 1998, Hughes Space and Communications Company of El Segundo, Calif., was selected by PanAmSat Corporation of Greenwich, Conn., to build PAS-6B, a Hughes HS-601HP spacecraft model to provide direct-to-home television transmissions in South America. The satellite was launched Dec. 21, 1998.

VEHICLE
Ariane 42L
MISSION
PAS 6B
MISSION TYPE
Communications
TARGET ORBIT
Geostationary Orbit
LAUNCH PAD
Ariane Launch Area 2
COUNTRY
FRA
CONFIRMEDPrecision: Minute
LAUNCH LIBRARY 2 PRIMARY
API ID: fd4c78e9-a5ff-4d36-b00d-d1934d476038
Reported date: Dec 22, 1998 at 01:08 UTC
Last synced: 19 minutes ago
This launch date and time are confirmed by the launch provider. Countdown is active.
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MANUFACTURER
Aérospatiale
VARIANT
42L
FLIGHTS
13
SUCCESSES
13
SUCCESS RATE
100%

The Ariane 4 was an expendable space launch system, developed by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the French space agency, for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was manufactured by ArianeGroup and marketed by Arianespace. Since its first flight on 15 June 1988 until the final flight on 15 February 2003, it attained 113 successful launches out of 116 total launches.

When is the Ariane 42L | PAS 6B launch?
The Ariane 42L | PAS 6B is scheduled for Tuesday, December 22, 1998 at 1:08 AM UTC. This is the NET (No Earlier Than) time and may be subject to change. Current status: SUCCESS.
What rocket is being used for PAS 6B?
The Ariane 42L | PAS 6B mission uses the Ariane 42L rocket, manufactured by Aérospatiale. The Ariane 42L has flown 13 times with a 100% success rate.
Where is the Ariane 42L | PAS 6B launching from?
The launch takes place from Ariane Launch Area 2 at Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.
What orbit is PAS 6B going to?
The PAS 6B mission is targeting Geostationary Orbit.
Who is launching PAS 6B?
The Ariane 42L | PAS 6B is operated by Arianespace.
Can I watch the Ariane 42L | PAS 6B launch live?
Yes. Visit the launch detail page on Space Launch Live for embedded YouTube webcasts, replay videos, and links to live coverage from SpaceX, NASA, NASASpaceflight, and other channels.
Mar 29, 2026 01:16 UTC
Launch added to tracker
Imported from Launch Library 2 API
Mar 29, 2026 01:16 UTC
Launch date set: Dec 22, 1998 at 01:08 UTC
NET (No Earlier Than) confirmed by Arianespace
Mar 29, 2026 01:16 UTC
Launch completed successfully
Updated via Launch Library 2
Last data sync: 19 minutes ago
Launch Library 219 minutes ago
Launch ID: fd4c78e9-a5ff-4d36-b00d-d1934d476038
Open-Meteo Weather3 days ago
Pad weather at 5.23, -52.78

Mission Profile

PAS 6B was a Ariane 42L mission operated by Arianespace that lifted off from Ariane Launch Area 2, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana on December 22, 1998. The flight carried its payload on a communications mission to Geostationary Orbit. The launch was a success.