News Broadcasting
Arianespace readies for 5 July dual telecom satellite launch
Arianespace’s eighth mission of the year, a dual telecommunications satellite launch, will take place on 5 July.
A heavy-lift Ariane 5 will loft the dual telecommunications satellite payload on Flight 153 carrying the Stellat 5 and N-STAR c satellites, with liftoff set at the opening of a launch window that runs from 8:21 pm to 9:18 pm Kourou time. Stellat 5, according to Arianespace, will ride in the upper payload position on Arianespace’s heavy-lift Ariane 5, and will be released into geostationary transfer orbit first. It will be followed by N-STAR c, which is to be in the lower position.
The N-STAR c is optimised for a 10-year on-orbit life and will provide mobile telephony and data transfer services to Japan and its surrounding waters. The satellite was delivered to the Ariane Spaceport in French Guiana on 18 June and was immediately moved into the new S5 preparation complex, where it is being readied for flight. Built by a Lockheed Martin/Orbital team for Japan’s NTT DoCoMo, N-STAR c will operate in S-band frequencies from an orbital location at 136 degrees East longitude. It will have a launch mass of 1,625 kg., and the satellite is based on Orbital’s STAR-1 and STAR-2 standard platforms, says Arianespace.
The Stellat 5 payload for Flight 153 will be used by a joint-venture company called Stellat, which brings together France Telecom with EuropeStar. Positioned at 5 degrees West longitude, Stellat 5, which arrived in French Guiana in May, will support two-way broadband Internet access across much of Europe, and will offer a connectivity matrix between Europe, the east coasts of North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and significant swaths of near Asia. Stellat 5, says Arianespace, is based on the Alcatel Space Industries’ Spacebus 3000 B3 platform, and will have a launch mass of 4,100 kg.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
