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An Ariane 5 launch for ProtoStar I.
(Arianespace
photo) |
KOUROU, French Guiana, Jan. 9, 2007/Satnews
Daily/ ― New satellite operator ProtoStar has chosen Arianespace to
launch DTH satellite ProtoStar I.
Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall announced during his annual January
press conference on Monday that Arianespace will launch the ProtoStar I
satellite for ProtoStar Ltd.
Arianespace said this is the 280th launch contract won by Arianespace
since its inception in March 1980.
ProtoStar I will be placed into geostationary transfer orbit by an
Ariane 5 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou,
French Guiana, during the first half of 2008.
Weighing in at 4100 kg, ProtoStar I is a Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) 1300
platform, built in Palo Alto, California and will be the 34th platform
built by SS/L to be launched by Arianespace. The satellite will be
equipped with 22 Ku-band 36 MHz equivalent and 38 C-band 36 MHz
equivalent transponders, and will provide digital DTH services, HDTV and
Broadband Internet to underserved areas in Asia.
“We are honored to be a part of this new venture. Protostar has
exhibited remarkable vision with its plan for bringing DTH satellite
coverage to Asia, and Arianespace stands-ready to launch this vision,
literally and figuratively,” said Jean-Yves Le Gall, Arianespace CEO.
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