[Satellie TODAY 05-18-10] Intelsat has selected Arianespace to launch the Intelsat 17 satellite at the end of 2010, the launch company announced May 16.
     Intelsat initially awarded the launch of Intelsat 17 to Sea Launch in January 2009 as part of a multiple launch services contract the two companies signed in November 2008. Sea Launch filed for bankruptcy in June.
     Arianespace will launch the C- and Ku-band satellite into geostationary transfer orbit on a Ariane 5 ECA from the European Space Port in French Guiana.
     Intelsat 17, built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), aims to expand Intelsat’s C-band video distribution community in the Indian Ocean region and provide capacity across Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Asia from the 66 degrees East orbital slot, where it will replace the Intelsat 702 satellite.