Arianespace To Launch Mexican Satellite Mexsat 3

[Larry-G]

September 29, 2011, Mexican government’s communications and transport administration, Secretara de Comunicaciones y Transportes, has awarded a contract to Arianespace to launch the country’s new Mexsat 3 telecommunications satellite.

Mexsat 3 will be placed into geostationary transfer orbit in late 2012 by an Ariane 5 or Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Mexsat 3 will be built by U.S. satellite manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation. With a mass at liftoff of nearly 3,050 kg, it will carry extended C-band and Ku-band transponders. The satellite will provide next generation communications services throughout the country from its 114.9 degree West longitude orbital slot. Mexsat 3 will have an in-orbit lifetime of over 15 years.

Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said: “We are extremely proud and honored to be serving Mexico once again, notably the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, which has shown its confidence in us for nearly 20 years. The choice of Arianespace is further recognition of the quality and excellence delivered by our launch service & solutions offer.