Arianespace will launch the Arsat-1 satellite for the Argentine satellite operator ARSAT under a new launch services and solutions contract.
Arianespace will employ its Ariane 5 or Soyuz launcher to place Arsat 1 into a geostationary transfer orbit from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana, by mid 2012.
Arsat-1, weighing 2,900kg at launch, will be fitted with 24 Ku-band transponders and provide telecommunications, data transmission, telephone and television services across Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay.
INVAP is building the satellite, and Astrium and Thales Alenia Space are the leading equipment suppliers.
