Posted: Fri, Mar 29, 2002, 9:04 AM ET (1404 GMT)
An Ariane 4 launched two commercial communications satellites Thursday night. The Ariane 44L, the version of the Ariane 4 that uses four strap-on liquid-propellant boosters, lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana, on schedule at 8:29 pm EST. The booster placed into orbit two communications satellites, JCSAT-8 and Astra 3A. JCSAT-8, a Boeing 601, will provide telecommunications services for Japan, Asia, Oceania and Hawaii. Astra 3A, a smaller Boeing 376HP, will provide direct TV services for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The launch is the four this year for Arianespace. The next Ariane launch is scheduled for April 16, when an Ariane 44L will launch the NSS-7 communications satellite for New Skies Satellites.

Related Links:

•  SPACE.com article
•  Spaceflight Now article
•  Arianespace press release