Posted: Sun, Nov 11, 2012, 9:51 AM ET (1451 GMT)
An Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched a pair of commercial communications satellites on Saturday. The Ariane 5 ECA lifted off from the spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, at 4:05 pm EST (2105 GMT) Saturday, one day later than planned because of high upper-level winds on Friday. The Ariane 5 placed into geosynchronous transfer orbit the Eutelsat 21B and Star One C3 satellites about a half-hour after launch. Eutelsat 21B, built by Thales Alenia Space, weighed 5,012 kilograms at launch and carries 40 Ku-band transponders. Eutelsat will operate the spacecraft at 21.5 degrees east in GEO to provide communications services for portions of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Star Once C3, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, weighed 3,227 kilograms at launch and carries C- and Ku-band transponders. Brazilian company Star One will use the spacecraft at either 75 or 84 degrees west in GEO to provide services for South America.

Related Links:

•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  RIA Novosti article
•  Rapid TV News article
•  Arianespace press release