Posted: Tue, Mar 19, 2013, 6:44 AM ET (1044 GMT)
Arianespace has won a contract to launch three Intelsat spacecraft while Sea Launch has an agreement to launch an EchoStar spacecraft despite a launch failure earlier this year, the companies announced Monday. Arianespace will launch three large Intelsat communications satellites on Ariane 5 rockets through 2017. The specific spacecraft to be launched under the deal were not disclosed, but will include Intelsat's EpicNG line of high-throughput satellites. Sea Launch said it had a "preliminary agreement" to launch an unnamed EchoStar on its Zenit-3SL rocket in 2015. The agreement is the first for Sea Launch since a February 1 launch failure.

Related Links:

•  Space News article on Sea Launch contract
•  RIA Novosti article on Sea Launch contract
•  Telecompaper article on Arianespace contract
•  Arianespace press release
•  Sea Launch press release