[Satellite TODAY 03-15-11] Argentinean operator Arsat selected Arianespace to launch Arsat-2 on an Ariane 5 or Soyuz rocket from the Guiana Space Center by the second half of 2013, Arianespace announced March 14.
    Argentine manufacturer Invap is building Arsat-2 with Astrium and Thales Alenia Space as its equipment suppliers. The satellite will be fitted with 26 Ku-band and 10 C-band equivalent transponders. Arsat aims to use the spacecraft to offer a wider range of telecommunications, data transmission, Internet and television services across the Americas.
    Arsat-2 will be the third Argentine satellite launched by Arianespace following Nahuel 1A’s launch in 1997 and the upcoming Arsat-1 mission scheduled for mid-2012.