Spain’s Hispasat 1C, built by Alcatel, was successfully launched from an Atlas IIAS rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Station last Wednesday (February 2). International Launch Services co-ordinated the launch. Hispasat 1C will boost Hispasat’s capacity on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, a key element of the Hispasat system. The craft will be co- located with Hispasat 1A and 1B at 30 degrees West. Hispasat 1C will near-double Hispasat’s capability. 1C uses Alcatel’s Spacebus 3000B2 platform built at Cannes, France. Clients signed up for the satellite include Via Digital, RTVE and Portugal’s TV Cabo.