[SatNews] The fifth Arianespace mission of 2010 orbited two telecommunicationspayloads today: one for an emerging new player in the broadband marketplace;and the other for a long-time customer that is the world's leading providerof fixed satellite services.

Lifting off this afternoon from the Spaceport's ELA 3 launch zone in FrenchGuiana, the heavy-lift Ariane 5 deployed its Intelsat 17 and HYLAS 1 passengers during a daytime mission lasting 49 minutes. This was the 54th mission for the workhorse Arianespace vehicle and the 198th flight of anAriane family launcher ."Less than one month after our most recent Ariane 5 liftoff, we are together once again to celebrate the performance, reliability and availability of our launcher — which this evening marked its 40th consecutive success," said Arianespace Chairman & CEO, Jean-Yves Le Gall, in comments from the Spaceport's mission control room.

The Ariane 5 continued its track record of on-target payload deliveries, with the following provisional orbital parameters at the injection of itscryogenic upper stage:    - Perigee: 249.3 km. for a target of 249.3 km.    - Apogee: 35,950 km. for a target of 35,943 km.    - Inclination: 1.98 deg. for a target of 2.00 deg.

Intelsat 17 was released first during today's mission. This 5,500-kg.spacecraft was built by Space Systems/Loral using its LS 1300 Omega satellite bus, and will deliver a wide range of communications services for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India. The satellite will be positioned at an orbital slot of 66 degrees East, operating with 25 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders. Le Gall noted that Arianespace has established a long relationship with Intelsat, which spans almost three decades.

HYLAS 1 is the first satellite lofted by Arianespace for Avanti Communications. Designed and built by EADS Astrium in partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation, HYLAS 1 is to bring high-speed broadbandservices to remote rural areas across Europe — using the flexibility of its payload to change the bandwidth of its 8 Ka-band beams from an orbital position of 33.5 degrees West, maximizing the satellite's efficiency. This is complemented by a Ku-band broadcast capability.

Arianespace is maintaining its sustained mission pace, with the final launchof 2010 planned for December 21 with the Hispasat 1E and KOREASAT 6 satellites.