Eutelsat is to launch two of its Hot Bird satellites on the first Atlas V and Ariane 5-ECS booster missions.
Talks are taking place with International Launch Services to fly Hot Bird 6 on the first Atlas V, on a demonstration flight for the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) programme, in May next year.
Eutelsat satellites have previously flown on the maiden flights of Atlas IIAS and IIIA boosters.
Hot Bird 7 would be one of two payloads flying on the first uprated Ariane 5ECS, in June 2002, with improved solid rocket boosters, the new Snecma Vulcain 2 cryogenic engine and the ESC-A cryogenic upper stage also debuting.
Source: Flight International