Ariane 5 - Dual launch of telecommunications satellites Early this morning, an Ariane 5 ECA launcher lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place two telecommunications satellites, JCSat-12 and Optus D3, into geostationary transfer orbits.
The latest successful launch: Arianespace orbits JCSAT-12 and Optus D3 On Friday evening, August 21, Arianespace orbited two communications satellites: JCSAT-12, built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems for the Japanese operator SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, and Optus D3, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation for the Australian operator Optus. 46th Ariane 5 launch, 32nd success in a row
Lockheed Martin-Built JCSAT-12 Satellite Ready to Be Launched for SKY Perfect JSAT The JCSAT-12 communications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News) for SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SKY Perfect JSAT) of Japan, is ready for its scheduled launch on Aug. 21 aboard an Ariane 5-ECA launch vehicle provided by Arianespace. The launch window opens at 6:09 p.m. EDT and closes at 7:09 p.m. EDT.
Japanese operator JSAT Corporation has chosen Arianespace to launch its JCSAT-12 communications satellite. Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, and Kiyoshi Isozaki, President and CEO of JSAT Corporation, signed today in Bangkok the launch Service & Solutions contract for the JCSAT-12 satellite. This is the 24th launch contract won by Arianespace in Japan out of 33 commercial contracts in the competitive market. JCSAT-12 will be launched by an Ariane 5 during the summer of 2009 from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. JCSAT-12 will provide service covering Japan, the Asia-Pacific region and Hawaii. Built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems in Newtown, Pennsylvania, JCSAT-12 is designed for a minimum of 15 years in-orbit life and will serve as backup satellite for other JSAT satellites.