Lifting off from the Spaceport's ELA-3 launch zone in French Guiana, Arianespace' Ariane 5 injected its JCSAT-12 and Optus D3 payloads into geostationary transfer orbit during a flight that lasted just over 34 minutes.

This was another on-time departure for Ariane 5, which started its climb-out at the 7:09 p.m. opening of a one-hour launch window.  It quickly passed through a thin layer of clouds, and was followed by tracking cameras that provided a clear view of the launcher's trajectory — including the downrange separation of Ariane 5's two solid propellant boosters at an altitude of nearly 68 kilometers. The satellite passengers lofted by Ariane 5 were built by U.S. manufacturers and will be operated by two of Arianespace's key Asia-Pacific customers: SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation of Japan and the Optus telecommunications provider in Australia. Ariane 5's payload lift performance for tonight's heavyweight flight was approximately 7,655 kg., which included the two satellites' combined 6,500-kg. mass, plus the SYLDA dual-passenger dispenser system and satellite integration hardware for the vehicle's payload "stack."

Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall thanked both SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and Optus for their trust, and underscored the two customers' long-term relationship with the launch services company. JCSAT-12 was built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and had a mass of approximately 4,000 kg. for its Ariane 5 liftoff.  This high-power spacecraft was the 40th Lockheed Martin-produced spacecraft launched by Arianespace, and it carries 30 Ku-band transponders plus 12 C-band transponders. Deployed at just under 27 minutes into the Ariane 5's mission tonight, JCSAT-12 will serve as the successor to SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation's JCSAT-R, which currently is in geostationary orbit as a backup relay platform.  

The Ariane 5's Optus D3 passenger was injected into orbit 34 minutes after liftoff, and was the sixth satellite lofted by Arianespace for SingTel Optus, the Australian integrated telecommunications provider whose parent company is Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel). Optus D3 was manufactured by Dulles, Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corporation,and is based on the company's START spacecraft bus.  Designed to provide fixed communications and direct television broadcasting services for Australia and New Zealand, Optus D3 weighed 2,500 kg. at liftoff.  The spacecraft is equipped with 32 Ku-band transponders, and will be located at an orbital position of 156 degrees East.

This mission was the 190th performed to date by a launcher of the Ariane family.  Following this latest success, Arianespace is keeping up the sustained launch rate with the goal of performing seven flights during 2009, making it the busiest mission year with Ariane 5 since the heavy-lift vehicle's commercial service introduction in 1999. The Ariane 5 for Arianespace's next mission has completed its initial build-up in the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building.  This vehicle is ready for transfer to the Final Assembly Building, where its dual-passenger payload, consisting of the Amazonas 2 satellite for Spanish-based telecom operator Hispasat, and the GMS relay platform for Germany, will be integrated.  As announced tonight, this 191st Ariane flight is targeted for late September. In parallel activity, the 192nd Ariane vehicle was delivered to the Spaceport this week, with the latest Ariane 5 ECA is ready to start its assembly for Arianespace's sixth launch of 2009.