Arianespace to Launch NewSat’s Jabiru-1 Satellite in 2014
By Jeffrey Hill | March 15, 2012
[Satellite TODAY 03-15-12] Australian operator NewSat has contracted Arianespace to launch the Jabiru-1 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit on an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the European Spaceport in French Guiana during the fourth quarter of 2014, the companies announced March 12.
The contract was signed Tuesday at the SATELLITE 2012 trade show and exhibition.
Jabiru-1 is currently being built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems and will be fitted with 50 Ka-band transponders to provide communication solutions to enterprise and government customers across Asia, the Middle East and eastern Africa.
“We are delighted to have been chosen by NewSat to launch their first satellite. Arianespace is particularly proud of this opportunity to serve a new Australian operator. For us, this latest contract provides further recognition of the outstanding quality and competitiveness of our launch services,” Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said in a statement.