Ariane 5 launches T-16 and EUTELSAT 7C satellites

Arianespace confirms its status as a trusted partner to world-class operators of communications satellites with the launch of T-16 and EUTELSAT 7C. The company's fifth launch of 2019 took place on Thursday, June 20 at 6:43 pm (local time) from the Guiana Space Center (CSG), Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. With this latest success, the second with an Ariane 5 launch vehicle in 2019, Arianespace consolidates its leadership in the market for commercial launches into geostationary orbit. This launch was the 104th overall for an Ariane 5 and the 310th launch by the Arianespace family. Following the launch, Stephane Israel, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace, said: "I would like to thank our two loyal customers for entrusting us with the launch of their T-16 and EUTELSAT 7C satellites. This second Ariane 5 launch of the year reaffirms the reliability of our heavy-lift launcher and its leadership in the geostationary market. We are very proud to count 24 GEO satellites in our order book. Some of them will be launched by Ariane 6, the new-generation launch vehicles scheduled to make its first flight in 2020."Arianespace supports two world leaders in satellite communications - EUTELSAT 7C is the 33rd satellite to be launched by Arianespace for Eutelsat. With this latest launch, Arianespace continues to bolster its exceptional partnership with Eutelsat, a relationship that reaches back to 1983. More than half of the operator's satellites to date have been orbited by Arianespace. This relationship is set to continue, since Arianespace's backlog includes seven more Eutelsat satellites, to be orbited by Ariane 5 and Ariane 6.

Built by Maxar Technologies, EUTELSAT 7C is a high-power broadcast satellite for markets in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Turkey. By significantly increasing power over Sub-Saharan Africa, it will make room for several hundred additional digital channels to support the region's rapidly expanding television market.

Built by Airbus Defence and Space, T-16 will provide high-power broadcast services to the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Arianespace has 21 more Airbus satellites in its launch backlog.