Mexican operator Satmex signs the launch contract today with Arianespace for its new Satmex 6 satellite.
Mexico City, May 30, 2002 – Lauro Gonzalez, President of Satmex, and
Jean-Marie Luton, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, today signed, at
the Universum Science Museum, the launch contract for the Satmex 6
satellite to be deployed by private Mexican operator Satélites
Mexicanos S.A. de C.V. (Satmex).
Launch by an Ariane 5 from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French
Guiana is scheduled for the first quarter of 2003.
"We are very pleased with today’s contract signing, a brilliant
conclusion to an extremely demanding selection process and further
recognition of our competitiveness," said Jean-Marie Luton, Chairman
and CEO of Arianespace. "Satmex 6 will be the fourth Mexican satellite
orbited by Arianespace and the second for Satmex, following Satmex 5,
which was launched on Ariane Flight 114 in December 1998. We are
extremely proud of our role in building the Mexican telecommunications
system, and of Satmex’s renewed confidence in us."
"Our team selected Ariane after a thorough evaluation of all possible
Satmex 6 launch options," said Lauro González, President of Satmex.
"Ariane gave Satmex the most reliable solution to launch what will be
the largest and most powerful satellite for Satmex and Mexico."
Currently under construction at Space Systems/Loral in Palo Alto,
California, Satmex 6 is based on SS/L’s space-proven 1300
geostationary satellite platform, which has an excellent record of
reliable operation. The satellite will weigh approximately 5,700
kilograms at liftoff and will be positioned at 109.2 degrees West.
Satmex 6 will carry 36 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders. Satmex will
use the state-of-the-art Satmex 6 satellite to bolster its
telecommunications and Internet transmission capacity for all of
Mexico, as well as other parts of North America and Latin America.
About Arianespace
Arianespace is the commercial launch services leader, holding more
than 50 percent of the international market for satellites launched to
geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Created in 1980 as the world’s
first commercial space transportation company, Arianespace has signed
launch contracts for more than 250 satellites, and has launched 195
satellites to date.
