Lockheed Decides To Use Ariane 5 Rocket To Launch Satellite For Japanese Operators In Liftoff From South American Spaceport

Arianespace announced it will provide lift capability to orbit several satellites in three planned launches.

Arianespace was selected to launch the Nilesat 201 satellite in the first quarter of 2010 as part of a turnkey contract signed by Thales Alenia Space with Egyptian operator Nilesat. To be carried by an Ariane 5 or Soyuz from the Spaceport in French Guiana, South America, Nilesat 201 will be placed into geostationary transfer orbit. This spacecraft will weigh nearly 3,000 kg. (6,614 pounds) at launch.

In a separate agreement, Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] unit Commercial Space Systems selected Arianespace to launch BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R in the first half of 2011 for use by Japanese operators B-SAT Corporation and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. The BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R platform also will have a liftoff mass of approximately 3,000 kg., and will be deployed in geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 operating from the Spaceport.

A Soyuz vehicle will orbit the third payload, Chile’s SSOT (Sistema Satelital para Observacion de la Tierra) Earth observation satellite, under terms of an agreement with EADS Astrium. The SSOT spacecraft is scheduled for launch from the Spaceport during the first half of 2010, and will be placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit. This satellite is designed to supply very-high-quality images for civil and military applications that range from mapping and agriculture and the management of natural resources.