Intelsat Taps Arianespace for Satellite Launch

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Arianespace announced a launch services contract with Intelsat for the launch of three satellites through 2017. The three satellites, each weighing over 6 tons at launch, will be placed into geosynchronous transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 KCA launch vehicle from Europe's space port in French Guiana. Intelsat's high-throughput EpicNG-class satellites will be included in the launch.

“We are particularly proud to be able to serve the world’s largest satellite operator and we thank Intelsat,” said Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace. “It is an honor to continue a partnership that goes back nearly 33 years. This new contract for three satellites--representing the 52nd, 53rd, and 54th satellites Arianespace will have launched for Intelsat-- is for us a confirmation of the quality and the competitiveness of our launch services.”

Doug Lung
Doug Lung
Contributor

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack. A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.