Arianespace and Eutelsat Communications have confirmed the launch of Ariane 5 ECA that will put both the Hot Bird 9 and W2M satellites into orbit. Flight 186 is planned to take place in the last week of November and will be the sixth Ariane 5 launch in 2008.
Eutelsat is benefitting from a change to the Ariane launch schedule that gives W2M a launch schedule earlier than expected.
Hot Bird 9 was built by EADS Astrium and arrived in Kourou from Toulouse on September 16. It will provide in orbit back up to the Hot Bird neighbourhood at 13 degrees East.
W2M was built by EADS Astrium/ISRO in Bangalore and is due to be shipped to Kourou by mid-October. The 32-transponder satellite will replace W2 at 16 degrees East and provide additional service capacity.
