spacetoday.net: Ariane launches two Latin American communications satellites

Posted: Sat, Oct 18, 2014, 8:38 AM ET (1238 GMT)
Ariane 5 ECA launch of Intelsat 30 and Arsat-1 (Arianespace)

An Ariane 5 successfully placed in orbit Thursday two communications satellites that will serve Latin America. The Ariane 5 ECA lifted off at 5:43 pm EDT (2143 GMT) and released the Intelsat 30 and Arsat-1 communications satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbits about a half-hour later. Intelsat 30, built by SSL for Intelsat, weighed 6,300 kilograms at launch. It carries C- and Ku-band transponders, the latter being used to provide programming by DIRECTV Latin America from 95 degrees west in GEO. Arsat-1, built by Argentine company Invap for Arsat S.A., weighed 2,985 kilograms at launch. Its Ku-band transponders will provide communications services for Argentina and neighboring countries from 71.8 degrees west in GEO. Arsat-1 is Argentina's first domestically-built communications satellite. The launch was the fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2014.