Arianespace, the world's leading commercial satellite launcher, has signed a contract with Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corp. to launch two broadcasting satellites for a Japanese company, Jean-Marie Luton, chairman of Arianespace said Thursday.
Orbital Sciences Corp., a satellite manufacturer, will make the two broadcasting satellites -- BSAT-2a and BSAT-2b -- for the B-SAT Corp., an NHK affiliate.
Arianespace plans to launch the satellites in 2000 and 2001 with satellite rockets -- Ariane 4 or Ariane 5 -- from a space center in French Guiana. It remains to be seen which type of rocket will be used for the satellites, Luton said.
"This contract bolsters Arianespace's position in the Asia-Pacific market, since it marks the 15th and 16th satellites to be launched for Japan," Luton told a press conference in Tokyo.
Arianespace has concluded contracts for 16 of 22 satellites that have been contracted for the Japanese commercial market since 1986.
Arianespace is a joint venture established in France in 1980 and has 53 organizational shareholders in 12 European countries. The firm has launched 158 satellites.