An Ariane 5 heavy lifter will launch the Arabsat 5C and 6B satellites, Arianespace announced.
Arabsat, of Saudi Arabia, chose Arianespace to haul the Arabsat 5C satellite into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) in the third quarter of 2011.
The Ariane 5 ECA will lift off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, South America.
Arabsat 6B is scheduled to orbit in the second half of 2012.
These two contracts are the 14th and 15th launch contracts that Arianespace has signed in the Middle East.
The Arabsat 5C and 6B satellites will be built by a European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. unit, EADS Astrium, and Thales Alenia Space, as part of a turnkey contract with the satellite communications operator Arabsat, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Astrium will supply the Eurostar E3000 platforms and handle satellite integration, while Thales Alenia Space will supply the payloads.
Offering a design life exceeding 15 years, these two communications satellites will provide telecommunications and television broadcast services in the Middle East and Africa.
Arabsat 5C will be fitted with 26 active C band and 12 Ka-band transponders, and will be positioned at 20 degrees East.
Arabsat 6B will be equipped with 36 active Ku-band transponders and will be positioned at 26 degrees East. Both satellites will weigh less than 5 tons.