spacetoday.net: Ariane launches two satellites

Posted: Thu, Aug 5, 2010, 6:00 AM ET (1000 GMT)
Ariane 5G launch of Nilesat 201 and Rascom-QAF1R (Arianespace)

An Ariane 5 rocket successfully placed into orbit two communications satellites for operators in Africa and the Middle East. The Ariane 5ECA lifted off at 4:59 pm EDT (2059 GMT) Wednesday and placed the Nilesat 201 and Rascom-QAF1R satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbits about a half hours later. Nilesat 201, a Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000B2 model, weighed nearly 3,200 kilograms at launch and carries 24 Ku-band and 4 Ka-band transponders. It will be operated from 7 degrees west longitude in GEO by Egypt-based Nilesat to provide direct-to-home television services for North Africa and the Middle East. Rascom-QAF1R is a Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000B3 model weighing 3,050 kilograms at launch and carrying 12 Ku-band and 8 C-band transponders. It will be used by African operator RascomStar-QAF to provide communications services throughout Africa from 28.5 degrees east. The launch is the third this year for Arianespace and the 38th consecutive successful Ariane 5 launch.