Spanish operator Hispasat has chosen Arianespace to launch its new communications satellite, Amazonas-2.
Petra Mateos, Chairman and CEO of Hispasat, and Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, signed today the launch Service & Solutions contract for the Amazonas-2 satellite.
13th contract of the year for Arianespace
The launch contract for Amazonas-2 is the 13th contract signed by Arianespace in 2007.
The satellite will be launched by an Ariane 5 during the summer of 2009 from the Guiana Space Center, Europes Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Astrium will construct the Amazonas-2 satellite using a Eurostar E3000 platform. It will weigh about 5,400 kg at launch. Fitted with 54 Ku-band transponders and 10 C-band transponders, Amazonas-2 will provide a wide range of communications services for Brazil, as well as North and South America in general. It has a design life of 15 years and will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 61 degrees West.
A launch for a prestigious customer
Amazonas-2 will be the fifth Spanish satellite launched by Arianespace. The European launcher had already orbited the Hispasat 1A and 1B satellites in 1992 and 1993 respectively. In 2005 and 2006, Arianespace has also launched XTAR-Eur and Spainsat.
Commenting on this latest contract, Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said: We are extremely proud and honored to have been chosen once again by such a prestigious customer, Hispasat. Arianes selection by a major European operator is both a mark of their full trust in our capabilities and clear recognition of the quality and excellence of Arianespace launch Service & Solutions.
