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Arianespace To Launch Australian Satellite
posted: 01:25 pm ET
30 October 1999
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PARIS (Reuters) - Western Europe's Arianespace company said Friday it had signed a contract to launch an Australian satellite from its Kourou launchpad in French Guiana, bringing its total launch backlog to 44 satellitesPARIS (Reuters) - Western Europe's Arianespace company said Friday it had signed a contract to launch an Australian satellite from its Kourou launchpad in French Guiana, bringing its total launch backlog to 44 satellites. "Australia's Optus C1 multi-purpose telecommunications satellite will be launched by an Ariane-5 or Ariane-4 rocket in late 2001 or early 2002 under terms of a contract announced today with Cable & Wireless Optus Ltd.," Paris-based Arianespace said in a statement. "Optus C1 will enable Cable & Wireless Optus Ltd. to provide direct TV broadcast, Internet, telephony and data transmission services for Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and South East Asia," it said. Financial terms were not disclosed. Specialists estimated the cost of the satellite, launch and insurance at over $200 million. Prime contractor for Optus C1 will be Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, which will build the satellite communications system. The satellite's structure and integration will sub-contracted to California-based Space Systems/Loral. Optus C1 is the 206th satellite contracted for launch by Arianespace since the company was founded in 1980.
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