Arianespace Gets Launch Order for Mitsubishi’s Superbird-7 Satellite

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Apr. 10–TOKYO — Arianespace SA said Monday it has landed an order from Mitsubishi Electric Corp. to send into orbit the Mitsubishi group’s Superbird-7 communications satellite in the first quarter of 2008.

Arianespace will put the 5-ton satellite into a stationary orbit at 144 degrees east longitude using an Ariane 5 rocket to be launched from the Guiana Space Center at Kourou in French Guiana, according to the world’s largest satellite launch service provider.

Superbird 7, to be built by Mitsubishi Electric, is to replace Superbird C, a satellite run by Tokyo-based Space Communications Corp., a Mitsubishi group firm, to provide telecom coverage for almost the entire Asia-Pacific region.

Superbird is the name of the series of satellites run by Space Communications. Superbird 7, to be fitted with 28 Ku-band transponders, will provide a range of telecommunications services covering Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.

Arianespace accounts for 70 percent of Japan’s commercial satellite launch services market, with 23 of the 32 satellites whose launch services have been won on a competitive tender basis.

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