CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Europe's most powerful launcher successfully lofted a pair of communications satellites into Earth orbit Friday for companies in Japan and France.
The shot marked the eighth this year for Arianespace, the commercial space lifting firm responsible for marketing and operating the Ariane family of rockets.
"I am very proud tonight to be able to share with you one more Ariane successful flight. This Ariane 5 success is meaningful to me, for it gives satisfaction to two very important and very symbolic Arianespace customers," said Jean-Yves LeGall, Arianespace's chief executive officer.
This time it was an Ariane 5 that illuminated the South American coast as the 151-foot (46.1-meter) tall booster climbed away from the Guiana Space Center and flew out over the Atlantic Ocean.
With its single main engine and pair of solid rocket boosters firing, the Ariane 5 lifted off at 7:22 p.m. EDT (2322 GMT) -- one minute later than initially advertised, although no explanation for the change was offered.
First to separate from the rocket was STELLAT 5, a multi-purpose communications satellite to be operated by Stellat, which is a joint venture between France Telecom and EuropeStar.
Built by Alcatel Space in Europe, the spacecraft is designed to provide television and two-way Internet service to users in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, near Asia and along the east coast of the American continents.The satellite -- which was ordered, assembled and launched in less than two years -- is intended to replace Telecom 2.
"Stellat 5 was designed with four things in mind: power, coverage, flexibility, and reliability," said Dominique Thbault, Stellat's chief executive officer.
This is the joint venture's first spacecraft. The number "5" after the satellite's name represents its position in geosynchronous orbit, hovering over Earth's equator at 5 degrees West longitude.
Seven minutes after STELLAT-5 separated the Ariane 5 upper stage released into orbit N-STAR c, a mobile telephone and data transfer communications satellite to be operated by NTT DoCoMo, Inc., of Tokyo.
The company currently operates two other satellites and this third spacecraft will ensure NTT DoCoMo can continue serving its 43 million customers.
N-STAR c was built in the United States by prime contractor Lockheed Martin, while also using a satellite bus provided by Orbital Sciences Corp.
By the numbers, Friday's shot was the 153rd for Arianespace and the ninth commercial mission for Ariane 5. Altogether there have been 12 Ariane 5 launches, including one earlier this year. Six Ariane 4 rockets also have launched this year.
Arianespace's next launch is now targeted for Aug. 27, LeGall announced Friday. An Ariane 5 is to carry Atlantic Bird 1 and MSG 1 into Earth orbit.
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