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TS News - Ariane Launches Two Satellites

TELE-satellit News, 15 November

Ariane Launches Two Satellites
  KOUROU, French Guiana, 96/11/15 (TS) -- Arianespace has successfully
launched two telecommunications satellites, Arabsat 2B for the Arab League
and Measat 2 for Malaysia, from its launch pad in French Guiana. This flight
follows Arianespace launches of Measat 1 in January (Flight 82), and Arabsat
2A in July 1996 (Flight 89).

  Flight 92 was carried out by an Ariane 44L, the most powerful version of
the European launcher, equipped with four liquid-propellant strap-on
boosters. This was the 63rd of 86 Ariane 4 launch vehicles ordered from the
European space industry. Lift-off from the European Spaceport in Kourou,
French Guiana took place on Wednesday, November 13, 1996 at 7:40pm local
time in Kourou (2240 UTC).

  Arabsat 2B is the second-generation satellite of the Arab League's Arabsat
organization. It was launched by Arianespace as part of a contract signed
with Aerospatiale, which built the satellite at Cannes, France.  Equipped
with 34 transponders, it will provide telecommunications and direct
broadcast television services for 16 years to people in all 21 countries of
the Arab League. Its lift off weight was 2,661 kg.

  Measat 2, the second satellite owned by Binariang Sdn Bhd, was built by
Hughes Space & Communications at El Segundo, California.  Weighing 1,512 kg
at lift off, it will remain in service for over 11 years. Measat 2 is
equipped with 6 high-power C-band and 8 medium-power Ku-band transponders.
It is part of Malaysia's national telecommunications satellite system.
Positioned over New Guinea, Measat 2's coverage footprint will extend over
East Asia for fixed and mobile services.

  Following Flight 92 and the eighteenth contract of 1996 signed several
days ago, Arianespace has now 41 satellites on order to be launched.

(c)TELE-satellit 1996. All rights reserved.
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