Satellite operator ARSAT selects Arianespace to launch Arsat-1

Arianespace has been chosen to orbit the first geostationary satellite built in Argentina, Arsat-1 for ARSAT (Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales Sociedad Anonima), following an international competitive bid. An Ariane 5 or Soyuz vehicle is scheduled to launch this spacecraft – which will weigh about 2,900 kg. at liftoff – from the Spaceport in French Guiana by mid-2012.