Arianespace placed Satmex 6 and Thaicom 5 into orbit May 27, the company announced. The mission, carried out by an Ariane 5 ECA launcher from Kourou, French Guiana, was the 27th for Ariane 5 and set a mass record of more than 8,200 kilograms placed into orbit, the company said.

Satmex 6, owned by Satélites Mexicanos S.A. de C.V., is the fourth satellite launched by Arianespace for Mexico and was produced by Space Systems/Loral. Weighing about 5,500 kilograms at launch, it will be positioned at 113º West and carries 36 C-band transponders and 24 Ku-band transponders to bolster Satmex’s telecommunications and Internet service offering throughout Mexico, as well as in parts of North America and Latin America.

Thaicom 5 was the fifth satellite launched by Arianespace for Thai operator Shin Satellite Plc. The spacecraft, built by Alcatel Alenia Space, weighed about 2,800 kilograms and is fitted with 25 C-band transponders and 14 Ku-band transponders. From its orbital position at 78.5º East, Thaicom 5 will provide telecom and television transmission services for the Asia-Pacific region, and eventually will replace the Thaicom 3 satellite.