PARIS, August 7 (Itar-Tass) — The Ariane 5 launcher that lifted off from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana in the early hours on Sunday, has successfully placed two telecommunications satellites into their planned transfer orbits, Arianespace said.
This is Ariane 5’s fourth launch this year. Initially, the launch was scheduled for July 1, but was postponed to allow a valve replacement for the launcher’s cryogenic oxigen core stage. This failure interrupted the final countdown in French Guiana.
This time the launcher brought to the orbit two satellites for Luxembourg and Japan’s operators. The life service of the two satellites is 15-16 years.
Arianespace Chief Executive Jean-Yves Le Gall was present at Kourou spaceport when Ariane-5 was launched.
He noted that at present, Arianespace has eighteen more orders for Ariane-5 launches, of them seven – are expected to bring Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to the orbit. The first Russian-French space launch under the effective treaty is scheduled for October 20.