Eutelsat has signed a new contract with Arianespace for a further satellite launch during 2012.
The contract for an Ariane 5 launch from the Guiana Space Centre was signed last month and provides schedule assurance for the operator’s six satellite expansion plan.
Commenting on this latest contract, Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall thanked Eutelsat for its continued support dating back a quarter of a century. “This contract is our 26th with Eutelsat, one of the world’s leading satellite operators, and further evidence of the outstanding service and solutions offered by Arianespace.”
Eutelsat CEO, Michel de Rosen, added: “With two thirds of our satellites launched by Arianespace, Eutelsat has been able to consistently count on their capacity for delivering reliability, flexibility and on-time performance.”
Arianespace’s December 29 launch successfully placed Hispasat 1E and Koreasat 6 in orbit. The last Arianespace launch for Eutelsat last October failed to place the satellite in orbit after a problem with the propulsion system on Eutelsat W3B.