spacetoday.net: Ariane launches two satellites

Posted: Wed, Aug 15, 2007, 9:25 AM ET (1325 GMT)
Ariane 5 launch of Spaceway 3 and BSAT-3a (ESA/CNES/Arianespace)

An Ariane 5 successfully launched two commercial communications satellites Tuesday evening. The Ariane 5 ECA lifted off from the Kourou, French Guiana spaceport at 7:44 pm EDT (2344 GMT) and placed the Spaceway 3 and BSAT-3a satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbits about a half hour later. Spaceway 3, a Boeing 702 spacecraft weighing over 6,000 kilograms, will be used by Hughes Network Systems (HNS) to provide Ka-band broadband data services throughout North America from its position at 95 degrees west in GEO. BSAT-3a, a Lockheed Martin A2100A satellite weighing 1,980 kilograms, will be used by the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation of Japan to provide television programming from 110 degrees east in GEO. The launch is the third Ariane 5 launch of the year; three more are planned through the end of the year.