spacetoday.net: Yahsat awards launch contract to Arianespace

Posted: Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 7:23 AM ET (1223 GMT)
A new Middle Eastern satellite operator will launch its first satellite on an Ariane 5, the company announced Tuesday. Yahsat signed an agreement with Arianespace to launch the Yahsat 1A spacecraft in late 2010 on an Ariane 5; terms of the deal were not disclosed. The satellite is one of two that European manufacturers Thales Alenia Space and EADS Astrium are building for Abu Dhabi-based Yahsat. The other Yahsat satellite will be launched in late 2010 or early 2011 on a Proton under a separate agreement with International Launch Services. The two satellites will be used to provide communications services for both commercial and government customers in the region.