ARIANESPACE

Ariane 44P | Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b

SUCCESS Ariane 44P →
Apr 28, 1998 at 22:53 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

With the launch of Nilesat 101 on 28 April 1998, delivering more than 100 digital TV channels as well as radio and multimedia services to more than five million homes over the whole of North Africa from Morocco to the Persian Gulf, Egypt became the first African country to have its own direct TV broadcast satellite. A second satellite, Nilesat 102, was launched in 2000, and the Nilesat system now broadcasts more than 150 digital TV channels and provides additional services such as data transmission, turbo internet and multicasting applications. BSAT-1a and -1b replaced the two BS-3 spacecraft used for DBS services, including Hi-Vision test broadcasts, by NHK, WOWOW, and others. Hughes selected the Ariane rocket as the launch vehicle for the BSAT-1 spacecraft. BSAT-1a was launched 16 April 1997 from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. BSAT-1b was also launched from Kourou on 28 April 1998. The two satellites are located at 110 degrees East longitude.

VEHICLE
Ariane 44P
MISSION
Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b
MISSION TYPE
Communications
TARGET ORBIT
Geostationary Orbit
LAUNCH PAD
Ariane Launch Area 2
COUNTRY
FRA
CONFIRMEDPrecision: Minute
LAUNCH LIBRARY 2 PRIMARY
API ID: dd409743-3011-47cf-a75e-28438ed8df5f
Reported date: Apr 28, 1998 at 22:53 UTC
Last synced: 5 minutes ago
This launch date and time are confirmed by the launch provider. Countdown is active.
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MANUFACTURER
Aérospatiale
VARIANT
44P
FLIGHTS
15
SUCCESSES
15
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 44P | Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b launch?
The Ariane 44P | Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, 1998 at 10:53 PM UTC. This is the NET (No Earlier Than) time and may be subject to change. Current status: SUCCESS.
What rocket is being used for Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b?
The Ariane 44P | Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b mission uses the Ariane 44P rocket, manufactured by Aérospatiale. The Ariane 44P has flown 15 times with a 100% success rate.
Where is the Ariane 44P | Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b launching from?
The launch takes place from Ariane Launch Area 2 at Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.
What orbit is Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b going to?
The Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b mission is targeting Geostationary Orbit.
Who is launching Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b?
The Ariane 44P | Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b is operated by Arianespace.
Can I watch the Ariane 44P | Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b 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: Apr 28, 1998 at 22:53 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: 5 minutes ago
Launch Library 25 minutes ago
Launch ID: dd409743-3011-47cf-a75e-28438ed8df5f
Open-Meteo Weather1 week ago
Pad weather at 5.23, -52.78

Mission Profile

Nilesat 101 & BSat 1b was a Ariane 44P mission operated by Arianespace that lifted off from Ariane Launch Area 2, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana on April 28, 1998. The flight carried its payload on a communications mission to Geostationary Orbit. The launch was a success.