Bangkok--Feb 19--Francom Asia
Europe's Ariane 5 launcher will put into orbit France's new STENTOR telecommunications technology demonstrator satellite.
Grard Brachet, Director General of French space agency CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales), and Jean-Marie Luton, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, signed the Stentor launch contract in Paris.
The launch will be carried out by an Ariane 5, during the second quarter of the year 2000, from the Guiana Space Center, in Kourou, French Guiana
"This contract confirms the long-term vision and dynamism of the French space industrial policy," noted Arianespace Chairman Jean-Marie Luton. "For Europe, it marks the emergence of 21st century telecommunication technologies. And by prefiguring the new generation of space technologies, the STENTOR satellite will also give a decisive adge in satisfying the needs of international operators."
STENTOR will demonstrate new spaceborne telecommunications capabilities, such as wideband and multimedia services beamed to miniature user terminals. It will weigh approximately 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) at liftoff, and is designed to test and validate the latest generation of onboard equipment, developed by various research and technology (R&T) programs. STENTOR, built jointly by Matra Marconi Space (MMS), Aerospatiale and Alcatel Espace, is being developed under the responsibility of CNES, with support from France Telecom and the French arms-procurement agency, DGA (Delegation Generale pour l"Armement).
With this contract, the 185th since the founding of the company in 1980, Arianespace has now 42 satellites on order to be launched. End.