Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) announced June 9 that the IPstar-1 satellite arrived at the Arianespace spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, and is undergoing preparations for launch aboard an Ariane 5 Generic rocket July 7. Weighing in at 14,341 pounds (6,505 kilograms), IPstar-1 will be the heaviest commercial satellite to date delivered to geosynchronous orbit.

Built for Shin Satellite Plc of Thailand, IPstar-1 is designed to provide both business and commercial customers throughout Asia, Australia and New Zealand with various levels of Internet access services.