posted 06-16-2005 08:10 AM
Europe's Ariane-5 rocket will propel into orbit the largest telecommunications satellite ever launched on the night of July 7-8, Arianespace confirmed Tuesday at the Paris Air Show. The regular Ariane-5 rocket will launch the Thai operator Shinsat's IPSTAR satellite, which has a takeoff mass of 6.5 tons.
The previous record for the largest satellite was Canadian telecommunications satellite Anik-F2, at 5.9 tons. That was launched by an Ariane-5 on July 18, 2004.
Arianespace said it plans four other launches this year, two with the new 780-ton version of its Ariane-5 rocket that can launch up to 10 tons into orbit, and two with the regular Ariane-5 rocket.
July's launch will be the 166th since Ariane rockets first went into service in December 1979.