Ariane-5 Rocket With Intelsat Satellite Launched From Guiana Space Port

An Ariane-5 carrier rocket has been successfully launched from Kourou, French Guiana.

PARIS (Sputnik) – An Ariane-5 carrier rocket with Intelsat 29e communications satellite has been successfully launched from a European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

@Arianespace launches its 70th consecutive Ariane-5 rocket with the first @INTELSAT Epic digital satellite! pic.twitter.com/vvl9Fyxqkx

— David Vanderveen (@Davidvanderveen) January 28, 2016

​The Intelsat 29e satellite will provide communications services for fixed and mobile customers in North and South America.

The satellite was the 56th Intelsat satellite launched by Arianespace since 1983. The Wednesday launch was the 70th successful Ariane-5 launch in a row.

The Ariane-5 rocket, manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency (ESA), is operated by the Arianespace commercial launch service provider.

Two more Intelsat satellites are scheduled to be launched this year. Half of Intelsat fleet now in orbit was launched by Arianespace.

According to Arianespace, up to eight Ariane-5 missions are planned for 2016.