The Telkom-1 and Koreasat 3 spacecraft are being divided up and launched on individual Ariane 4 rockets. The satellites had been set for launches with other spacecraft on two Ariane 5 rockets, but those payloads have been repeatedly delayed. Therefore, the payload manifests will be rearranged, and satellites will be launched instead on a first-ready, first-served basis.

Launching one satellite per rocket is an unusual move for the company, whose flight manifests have been upended this year when satellites have proven difficult to ready in groups for launch. The Telkom-1 will launch first on Aug. 4 followed by Koreasat 3 which will go up on August 26. Both rockets will fly from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana South America. Both the Ariane 4 and 5 rockets are designed to be more efficient by lifting several satellites in a single launch.

At least one Ariane 5 will fly between now and the end of the year with whatever set of satellites can be made ready. According to spokesperson Birgit Zacher in Washington, final payloads for the launch wont be announced until they are closer to completion and have arrived in Kourou.

Zacher told space.com that a firm date would be set once the payloads are further along in preparations. "We now hope to launch about eight more rockets during the year, either Ariane 4, 5 or some combination," she explained.

Two launches have been conducted in the first quarter of the year. If the two August launches go on time, the company now hopes to launch six more times between September and December. His would make a total of 10 launches for 1999, the same record as last year.

Arianespace had total sales of $1.068 billion last year, as compared to $1 billion in 1997. Net income was $14 million compared to $11.8 million in 1997.