[Satellite Today 07-08-08] Arianespace has launched the ProtoStar 1 and BADR-6 satellites, the company said July 8.
    This is the fourth launch Arianespace in 2008 and is a boost to both ProtoStar, which has aspirations of being a major force in Asia, and Arabsat, which hopes the BADR-6 satellite will boost its position in the Middle East.
    ProtoStar’s ProtoStar 1 satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral and carries 16 Ku-band transponders and 38 C-band transponders. The satellite will be positioned at 98.5° East to cover Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
    Arabsat’s BADR-6 satellite was built by Astrium and is equipped with 24 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. BADR-6, along with other satellites in the BADR constellation, will provide TV broadcasting services to more than 130 million viewers stretching from Morocco to the Persian Gulf and covering a large part of sub-Saharan Africa.