An Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched two new communications satellites into orbit Thursday (June 20) after a gorgeous sunset liftoff from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.
The rocket lifted off right on schedule at 6:43 p.m. local time in Kourou (5:43 p.m. EDT; 2143 GMT), only 2 minutes before sunset. It carried payloads for two world-class satellite operators: AT&T's T-16 satellite (also known as DirecTV 16), and the Eutelsat 7C satellite for the Paris-based company Eutelsat Communications, according to a statement by Arianespace.
This marks the fifth launch this year for the European company Arianespace, the world's first commercial launch service provider, and the company's second launch of an Ariane 5 rocket this year.
In Photos: Ariane 5 Rocket Launches DirecTV 16 and Eutelsat 7C Satellites
The T-16 is the 11th satellite launched by Arianespace for AT&T, following SKY Mexico-1 and DirecTV 15, which launched in May 2015, and SKY Brasil-1 that launched in February 2017. T-16 will provide high-power broadcast services covering the United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, the statement added.
Meanwhile, Eutelsat 7C is the 33rd satellite that Arianespace has launched for Eutelsat Communications. The first, Eutelsat-1 F1, launched in 1983. Like DirecTV 16, this payload is a high-power broadcast satellite, but it will serve markets in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Turkey.
Eutelsat 7C will help to boost broadband coverage over sub-Saharan Africa, which will help accommodate the region's expanding TV market, according to Arianespace. "We look forward to putting it into service and continue building the momentum at this location," Yohann Leroy, Eutelsat's deputy chief executive and chief technology officer, said in a speech following the launch.
Both satellites safely arrived in geostationary transfer orbit in a relatively short amount of time. DirecTV 16 was the first to separate from the rocket's upper stage at approximately 28 minutes after liftoff, and it was followed by Eutelsat 7C about 6 minutes later.
Following this launch, Arianespace has been contracted to launch seven more Eutelsat satellites that will join the company's growing fleet.
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