Article Posted on : - May 18, 2010

Intelsat 17.

PARIS (BNS): Arianespace has signed a contract with Intelsat to launch the �Intelsat 17� satellite from the European Space Port in French Guiana at the end of 2010.

Arianespace will launch the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA to place Intelsat 17 (with mass of nearly 5800 kg, at liftoff) into geostationary transfer orbit.

Intelsat 17 aims to expand Intelsat's C-band video distribution community in the Indian Ocean region and provide higher-performing capacity across Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Asia from the 66 degrees East orbital slot.

"We are proud to be able to offer Intelsat the unrivalled performance and reliability of the Ariane 5 ECA for its Intelsat 17 mission. We relish this opportunity to cultivate even further the longstanding relationship between Arianespace and Intelsat," Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall, said in an official news release.

Intelsat 17 will be launched to replace the Intelsat 702 satellite.