Ariane-5 to launch new telecommunications satellite
The Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) has announced that its new Astra telecommunications satellite will be launched by an Ariane-5 heavy-lift launcher in early 2002. To date, seven satellites have been launched for SES on Ariane launchers from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The Astra 3a satellite is designed for a minimum in-orbit life of ten years, and will provide optimum direct television coverage for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.