Meeting here 7-14 September, the INTELSAT Board of Governors approved award of a contract to Arianespace for the launch of three additional INTELSAT IX satellites.
With this contract, Arianespace will launch the INTELSAT 905, 906, and 907 spacecraft on Ariane 44L or Ariane 5 launch vehicles, starting late next year and continuing through 2002. Arianespace already has been contracted to launch the INTELSAT 901, 902 and 904 satellites throughout 2001, with the first launch expected in the second quarter of 2001.
Arianespace has an impressive track record of 56 consecutive, successful Ariane 4 launches. Over the last two decades, Arianespace has successfully launched 16 INTELSAT satellites.