Arianespace launched its 52nd Ariane 5 launch via an Ariane 5 ECA launcher from Kourou, French Guiana Nov. 10, orbiting the telecommunications satellites Eutelsat 21B for European operator Eutelsat and Star One C3 for U.S. manufacturer Orbital Sciences and Brazilian satellite service provider Star One.
   This mission was the sixth Ariane 5 launch in 2012, where the Eutelsat 21B is Arianespace’s 26th satellite launch for Eutelsat and Star One C3 is the ninth Brazilian satellite to use the European launcher. Eutelsat 21 B will be positioned at 21.5 degrees East and was built using a Spacebus 4000C3 platform by Thales Alenia Space, fitted with 40 active Ku-band transponders. It is designed to provide businesses and governments in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, western Africa and Central Asia with telecommunications and data transmission services and has a design life of over 15 years.
   Star One C3 will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 75 or 84 degrees West. It was built by Orbital Sciences based on a Star-2 platform and is equipped with 28 C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders. The satellite is designed to provide Brazil and South America with direct TV broadcast, telephone and long-distance domestic communications services and has a design life of 15 years.