Arianespace placed two satellites into geostationary transfer orbit: the JCSAT-10 communications satellite for Japanese operator JSAT Corp., and the Syracuse 3B military communications satellite for the French Ministry of Defense.

It was the 28th mission for Ariane 5 and the 14th successful launch in a row, according to Arianespace.

Ariane 5 is the only commercial launcher in service capable of simultaneously launching two payloads, the company stated.

STEREO Launch

Separately, launch of the STEREO spacecraft is planned for no earlier than Aug. 31 aboard a Delta II 7925-10L rocket out of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

Global Hawk

During the multi-national Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the RQ-4 Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration system flew four successful maritime surveillance missions, Northrop Grumman Corp. [NOC] reported.

The tests aimed to demonstrate the system’s capabilities, from identifying targets in a coastal, or littoral, environment to wide area maritime search, tracking and identification. The RIMPAC exercise was conducted in late July in the Pacific Ocean around Hawaii.

In the tests, the Navy operated one of its two Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) air vehicles from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to Hawaii for each mission flown.

Equipped with sensors carrying new maritime software modes, GHMD captured images of various RIMPAC activities, including a ship-sinking exercise, expanded maritime interdiction operations, and wide-area search and surveillance to locate target vessels at sea.

GHMD flew more than 2,500 miles each way for a total of more than 100 flight hours and provided more than 8 hours on-station time during each mission