spacetoday.net: Ariane launches two communications satellites

Posted: Fri, Sep 12, 2014, 7:25 AM ET (1125 GMT)
Ariane 5 ECA launch of Measat-3b and Optus 10 (Arianespace)

An Ariane 5 rocket placed two communications satellites into orbit Thursday evening. The Ariane 5 ECA lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana, at 6:05 pm EDT (2205 GMT) Thursday and released the Measat-3b and Optus 10 satellites into geostationary transfer orbits about a half-hour later. The launch was delayed by nearly 45 minutes because of issues not directly related to the rocket, including the reconfiguration of a downrange tracking station. Measat-3b, a Eurostar 3000 model spacecraft built by Airbus Space and Defence for Malaysian operator Measat, weighed nearly 5,900 kilograms at launch. The spacecraft carries Ku-, S-, and X-band transponders to provide communications services from 91.5 degrees east in GEO. Optus 10, a Space Systems Loral 1300-series spacecraft built for Australian company Optus, weighed 3,270 kilograms at launch. It will provide Ku-band services from 164 degrees east in GEO.