An Arianespace Ariane-5 rocket Oct. 13 completed a daylight launch from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, orbiting the DirecTV-9S and Optus-D1 satellites along with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s LDREX-2 piggyback payload. This was the fourth Ariane-5 multi-payload mission in 2006.

DirecTV 9S, built by Space Systems/Loral, will provide high-definition (HD) programming and back-up capacity for DirecTV. This is the fourth satellite the company has placed into orbit in the past two years, and DirecTV plans to launch two more in 2007.

Optus D1, the first of two satellites that Orbital Sciences Corp. is building for Optus Networks Pty Limited of Australia, will provide transmission capability for Sky Digital New Zealand, TVNZ and Australia’s ABC and SBS while boosting capacity for Internet and voice and data communications services in Australia and New Zealand. Optus D2 is scheduled for completion and launch in 2007.