Flyinginto space tonight will be a satellite called Eutelsat W1, a large 7,150pound (3,250 kilogram) spacecraft that was built by Astriumin Toulouse, France and will be operated by Eutelsat of Paris, Europe'slargest satellite services provider.EutelsatW1 will provide broadband connections for corporate networks, internetbackbone capability, television programming and serve as an electronicpath connecting Europe with Africa.
Oncein orbit Eutelsat will have 18 satellites in its constellation coveringEurope, Africa and the majority of Asia. Service includes broadcastingmore than 700 television channels to more than 81 million homes.
ForArianespace, tonight's launch will mark the sixth flight this year andthe 131st flight overall in the Ariane program.
Tonight'slaunch will feature an Ariane 4 configured with four strap-on solid-fuelbooster rockets, the 13th time this particular model has been used duringthe history of the program.
Ariane4's core rocket is essentially the same for all launches, but by combiningpairs of liquid- and solid-fuel boosters added to the first stage, therocket's weight lifting capability easily can be tailored to handle oneor two satellites of varying weights at a time.
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