Posted: Thu, Sep 9, 2004, 1:58 PM ET (1758 GMT)
Launch services provider Arianespace announced Thursday that is has won contracts to launch three commercial satellites. The French company reported that it has signed a deal with DirecTV to launch two of its satellites on Ariane 5 vehicles. One Spaceway 2, will be launched in April 2005; that spacecraft was to be launched on a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL but was moved to the Ariane 5 because of schedule concerns. The other satellite was described by Arianespace as only an "unnamed direct-to-home" satellite; Space News yesterday reported it was likely DirecTV 9S. Separately, Arianespace announced a contract to launch PanAmSat’s Galaxy 17 spacecraft. The spacecraft will be launched on an Ariane 5 no earlier than late 2006.
