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Arianespace has launched two telecommunications satellites, Eutelsat 21B and Star One C3, aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the European Spaceport in French Guiana.

The two satellites were placed into the geostationary orbits around 30 minutes after liftoff.

Arianespace 5 Flight 210 was originally scheduled for launch on 9 November, but was put back to the next day because of poor weather conditions.

The launch marks the 66th flight for an Ariane 5 rocket, the 210th for an Ariane vehicle and the 52nd successful launch in a row, Arianespace stated.

Built by Thales Alenia Space using a Spacebus 4000C3 platform, Eutelsat 21B was equipped with 40 Ku-band transponders, weighing 5,012kg at liftoff and was placed at 21.5° E.

Designed to operate for 15 years, it will deliver telecommunications and data transmission services for businesses and governments in Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Western Africa and Central Asia.

"The launch marks the 66th flight for an Ariane 5 rocket."

Star One C3, which was developed by Orbital Sciences, is the new member in the third generation of satellites for Brazil’s Star One, and included 28 C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders.

Positioned at 75° W to replace the existing Brasilsat B3 satellite, it will offer direct TV broadcast, telephone and long-distance domestic communication services for Brazil and South America for 15 years.

Eutelsat 21B is the 26th satellite for the telecommunications operator Eutelsat, while Star One C3 is the ninth Brazilian telecommunications satellite orbited by Arianespace.

On 30 November, Arianespace is set to launch the French Pleiades 1B high-resolution satellite aboard a Soyuz launcher from French Guiana.

Image: The two satellites were placed into the geostationary orbits around 30 minutes after the launch. Photo: courtesy of Arianespace.