Article Posted on : - Apr 29, 2011

EVRY (BNS): Arianespace has announced that it will launch the ABS-2 communications satellite for an Asian satellite operator in 2013.

The satellite will be launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from the European spaceport in French Guiana in 2013, the European space company said.

The satellite will weigh over 6,000 kg. at launch and will be placed in geostationary orbit at 75 degrees East where ABS-1, ABS-1A and ABS-1B are currently located.

Fitted with C, Ku, and Ka-band transponders, the ABS-2 will provide optimised direct TV broadcast, multimedia applications, telecommunications and data transmission services for Asia, Russia/CIS, Africa and the Middle East.

The ABS series of satellites are operated by Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS), a leading satellite operator in the Asia Pacific.

With the launch of ABS-2, Arianespace will be puting in orbit a total of 59 satellites for the Asian operators to date.