French Firm is Repurposing Five of its ST Fleet for Outsized Freight Transport
Airbus has called into action its A300-platform Beluga ST cargo aircraft to fly one of its own telecommunications satellites from Toulouse to the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral in Florida.
The whale-shaped Beluga was tasked with carrying the HOTBIRD 13G unit for France-based satellite operator, Eutelsat. The satellite’s twin, HOTBIRD 13F, was successfully shot into orbit just hours earlier using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. An Airbus spokesperson told Breakbulk the satellite was 5.4 metres long and had a launch mass of 4,476 kilos.
The 13G itself is slated to be launched from Cape Canaveral within a month, Airbus said.
The satellites will be used to enhance the broadcast of more than 1,000 television channels into homes across Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East.
“It is a true honour to consecutively showcase two satellites for our customer Eutelsat: two pieces of European technology at the iconic Kennedy Space Centre,” said Jean-Marc Nasr, head of space systems at Airbus.
“The ability of Airbus to field an autonomous European solution is underscored by the transportation of our satellites in the unique Beluga aircraft – a true example of pan-Airbus synergies!”
The Beluga ST fleet is being repurposed for outsized freight transport services after Airbus announced the aircraft would be replaced by six brand-new A330 Beluga XLs, which are used to fly Airbus components to sites in Europe.
Just one Beluga ST has so far begun operations, with another four slated to enter service over the next two years.
The aircraft has a capacity to transport up to 40 tonnes, and while less than the payload of a Boeing 747-F or an Antonov AN124-100, its unique dimensions – which include an inside height of 6.7 metres – means the plane is ideal for carrying oversized cargo for industries such as oil and gas, construction and aerospace.
For the satellite move to Cape Canaveral, the cargo at KSC was unloaded using one of Airbus's new outboard platforms, a 5-metre-high handling device that is designed for positioning in advance of an aircraft’s arrival. Up to 20 platforms are slated for deployment at strategic locations worldwide by the end of 2023.
"The platform shall remain in North America for our future missions departing and arriving in the region," the spokesperson said.
