On December 29, the Ariane 5 rocket was launched from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana, successfully placing the South Korean telecommunications satellite Koreasat 6 and Spain’s Hispasat 1E into orbit.
The Ariane 5 launch vehicle, carrying two telecommunications satellites, was successfully launched into orbit last October. (Source: AFP/TTXVN)
This marks the sixth launch of the Ariane 5 rocket this year and the 55th launch from Kourou, despite the fact that this launch was delayed by 24 hours due to weather conditions.
The Koreasat 6 satellite weighs 2.85 tons, while Hispasat 1E weighs 5.32 tons, and both will be positioned in geostationary orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km.
Koreasat 6, manufactured by Thales Alenia Space, has a lifespan of at least 15 years and is designed to provide telecommunications services and broadcasting to South Korea and neighboring countries. Meanwhile, Hispasat 1E, built by Space Systems/Loral in the United States, will enhance the capacity of Hispasat in Spain to provide a range of data and television services across the United States, Europe, and North Africa.
The Director of Arianespace stated that this is the 41st consecutive successful launch of the Ariane 5. In 2010, Arianespace launched 12 satellites out of a total of 20 satellites launched worldwide.
Arianespace’s next launch is scheduled for February 15 of next year, which will carry the second Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) from Europe, loaded with supplies for the International Space Station (ISS).
Arianespace was established in 1980 and currently has 24 shareholders from 10 European countries.
