Kourou: Arianespace has launched a rocket carrying two satellites that will provide
direct TV broadcasts to continents including Europe, Asia and Africa.
The Ariane 5 released the satellites into orbit yesterday about half an hour after taking off from a launch centre in French Guiana, Arianespace, the commercial arm of the 13-country European Space Agency, said in a news release.
The satellites weighed a total of nearly 9,000 kilograms and are expected to provide service for at least 15 years.
The NSS-12 will provide telecommunications and direct-to-home TV broadcast services in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Middle East. It is operated by SES WORLD
SKIES and was built by Space Systems/Loral. The THOR 6 will provide similar services to the Nordic region and to Central and Eastern Europe. It was built by Thales Alenia Space and is operated by Telenor Satellite Broadcasting AS, a subsidiary of Norwegian mobile operator Telenor.
This year's final Ariane 5 flight is planned for early December.
It has already completed six flights this year and placed more than 42,000 kilograms into orbit.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, October 30, 2009, 13:40