The fifth Ariane-5 launch vehicle’s satellite Amazonas 2 has arrived at the French Guiana spaceport ready for launch in late September 2009.

The 5,400kg telecommunications relay satellite built by Astrium will be operated by HISPASAT to offer additional coverage over America from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.

The satellite will carry a payload of 64 active transponders comprising 54 transponders for ku-band and ten for C-band operation.

The Ariane rocket launching the satellite is the fifth of the seven Ariane-5 flights targeted for 2009.

HISPASAT is a satellite operator serving the Spanish and the Portuguese markets.