Arianespace has launched the SGDC and KOREASAT-7 telecommunications satellites with the Ariane 5 heavy launcher from the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana.

It is reported that the SGDC is launched for Visiona Tecnologia Espacial on behalf of Brazilian operator Telebras and the government, while the KOREASAT-7 is for South Korean operator ktsat.

The launch represents the 78th consecutive successful mission for Arianespace, and the seventh Arianespace mission that carried two satellites developed by Thales Alenia Space.

Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël said: “With this second successful launch of the year by Ariane 5, and the 78th successful mission in a row by our heavy launcher, Arianespace proudly gives our Brazilian and South Korean customers the benefits of our excellent launch services.

“We are honoured by the confidence expressed today by Visiona Tecnologia Espacial, which chose us for its first satellite on behalf of the operator Telebras and the Brazilian Government; as well as that of the South Korean operator ktsat, for whom we have launched three satellites since 1999.”

Arianespace launched the SGDC under the turnkey contract with the company Visiona Tecnologia Espacial.

The SGDC is a government programme designed to provide high-quality internet services, secure strategic communications for its armed forces and government, as well as offer key technologies to its indigenous initiatives for future space missions.

“We are honoured by the confidence expressed today by Visiona Tecnologia Espacial, which chose us for its first satellite on behalf of the operator Telebras and the Brazilian Government."

The KOREASAT-7 is the third satellite to be launched by Arianespace for ktsat, a subsidiary of KT Corp.

It is designed for wide range of video and data transmission applications and to provide internet access, direct-to-home (DTH) TV broadcasting, government communications and connectivity to VSAT networks.

In its next mission, Arianespace is scheduled to launch Soyuz Flight VS17 that carries the SES-15 satellite for global operator SES on 18 May.