Intelsat has awarded Arianespace an order to launch the Intelsat 905, 906 and 907 communications satellites. Arianespace now has six Intelsat 9 series spacecraft on its launch books from mid-2001 to late 2002.
The 4,700kg (10,350lb), C- and Ku-band Space Systems/Loral satellites will be launched by Ariane 4 or 5 vehicles.
The new order brings to 49the number of spacecraft on Arianespace's orderbook, nine of which are Automatic Transfer Vehicles for the International Space Station.
The next Arianespace launch is due early this month, carrying Japan's N-Sat 110 communications satellite on an Ariane 42L booster. The next Ariane 5 mission, carrying PanAmSat 1R, will be launched on 31 October with the additional piggyback payloads, Amsat P3D and two Space Technology Research Vehicles from the UK's Dera.
Source: Flight International
