Global General

Ariane 5 lifts off with two telecom satellites

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-12-30 11:11

PARIS - An Ariane 5 carrying two telecommunication satellites -- Hispasat 1E and Koreasat 6 -- lifted off Wednesday from the launch zone based in Kourou in French Guiana.

Related readings:  Ariane rocket puts two satellites into orbit  Arianespace shoots 2 satellites  European Ariane rocket sends 4 satellites into space

Hispasat 1E on the upper position will be the first to be separated from the launcher. It is designed to serve Spanish operator Hispasat on television and value-added broadband services in mobile, land and maritime environments.

The other satellite, Koreasat 6, was built by US Orbital Sciences Corporation and Thales Alenia Space of France for South Korea's KT Corporation. It is to provide broadcasting and communications services across South Korea.

The launch of Ariane 5 was postponed from Tuesday due to a windy weather. This is Arianespace's year-end mission and the sixth flight of the heavy-lift Ariane 5.