European launcher company Arianespace has won contracts to launch five satellites for PanAmSat (PAS), Inmarsat and the European Space Agency bringing the orderbook to record numbers at 51.
All three PAS satellites - each fitted with 20 C-band transponders - are being built by the US company Orbital Sciences. Galaxy 12 will be launched aboard an Ariane 4 or 5 from the Kourou spaceport in South America in late 2002.
PAS Light 2 and 3 are set for Ariane 5 launches during the second half of 2003 and 2004 respectively during shared launches with a larger satellite.
The 1,700kg (3,700lb) communications satellites will be positioned at 99°, 125° and 133° in geostationary orbit respectively.
Inmarsat Ventures has signed a letter of intent for a launch services contract for one of the four Inmarsat 4 communications satellites being built, with the indication that further options would be taken up.
The Inmarsat launches would take place between 2003-04 from Kourou. The satellites will weigh more than 6,000kg and are being built by Astrium.
Arianespace also received confirmation that ESA will use an Ariane 5 to launch its Rosetta comet lander mission in January 2003. The company hopes to break even in 2001 after suffering losses in 2000. The company posted sales of $995 million, an increase of 13.5% over 1999 but recorded its first loss in 20 years, at $209 million.
The losses were mainly caused by investing in the infrastructure at the Kourou launch site in French Guiana, including a new satellite preparation building which can prepare eight satellites simultaneously for launch.
Source: Flight International
