Today, Ariane 5 is the only active launcher capable of simultaneously launching two satellites. Ariane 5 ECA is able to launch up to ten tons to a transit orbit from which the satellites move to geoscientific orbit, and this enables better performance for customers, flexibility and a competitive price
19.11.2005
During the night between November 16 and 17, Ariane launched two satellites into a transit orbit that would eventually bring them into geostationary orbit. The SPACEWAY 2 broadcast satellites that were launched for the American company DirecTV and TELKOM 2 that served the TV stations in Indonesia, were launched in one launch of an Ariane 5 missile. This is the 20th successful launch of an Ariane 5 missile, the tenth in a row and also the weight record.
The mission was a record in terms of all commercial launches - over 8 tons, the heaviest weight ever launched other than a single satellite.
Today, Ariane 5 is the only active launcher capable of simultaneously launching two satellites. Ariane 5 ECA is able to launch up to ten tons to a transit orbit from which the satellites move to a geostationary orbit, and this enables better performance for customers, flexibility and a competitive price.
The Ariane company also partners with the Russian launcher manufacturer that operates the Soyuz launchers, and together Ariane offers a variety of launch options to owners of satellite companies and communications operators around the world.
