Orbital Sciences Corp. announced Aug. 22 that the Optus D1 communications satellite has been delivered to Kourou, French Guiana, where it is scheduled to be lofted into orbit aboard an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket in September.

The Optus D1 is the first of two high-power satellites Orbital is building for Optus Networks of Australia. The second satellite, Optus D2, is scheduled for completion and launch in 2007. Both of the Optus satellites are based on Orbital’s new Star 2.4 platform.