Arianespace has been selected to orbit the Athena-Fidus satellite within the scope of a contract signed by Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio and the French and Italian space agencies, CNES and ASI. An Ariane 5 or Soyuz vehicle is scheduled to launch this spacecraft – which will weigh about 3,000 kg. – from the Spaceport in French Guiana during the second half of 2013.