Ariane 5 soars to success with Intelsat 11 and Optus D2

Arianespace's workhorse Ariane 5 scored its fourth dual-payload launch success of 2007, orbiting the Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 payloads during a mission performed from the Spaceport in French Guiana this evening.

The 178th launcher in the Ariane series delivered its two smaller-sized spacecraft during 32 minutes of flight. Both payloads were built by U.S. manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation at its Dulles, Virginia, plant using the company's STAR 2 platform.

Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall noted the launch occurred just six months after the Intelsat 11's launch contract was signed with Washington, D.C.-based Intelsat.

"This clearly demonstrates the flexibility of our Service & Solutions offer," Le Gall said. "Furthermore, tonight's launch brings to 20 the number of successes in a row for Ariane 5, once again establishing Arianespace as the world reference for this industry.

Intelsat 11 rode as the upper Ariane 5 payload for this mission, and was released about 28 minutes after liftoff. Once the satellite arrives at the final orbital position of 43 deg. West, it will host Latin America's premiere video programmers and the region's largest DTH (direct-to-home) platform.

Weighing approximately 2,500 kg. at liftoff, Intelsat 11 carries a hybrid payload composed of C-band and Ku-band transponders.

Ariane 5 deployed Optus D2 at 32 minutes after liftoff, and this spacecraft ultimately will be positioned at 152 deg. East. This 2,350-kg. platform will join the fleet of Australian-based telecommunications provider Optus, enabling the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services as well as services bundling.