Inmarsat appoints Arianespace for launch of Alphasat I-XL

 

20th May 2009

Inmarsat plc has signed a contract with Arianespace for the launch of its Alphasat I-XL satellite.

Planned for launch in 2012, the Alphasat I-XL satellite will be carried by an Ariane 5 ECA from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.  The satellite, currently under development by Astrium, is the first commercial deployment of the European Space Agency’s Alphabus platform.  Positioned at 25 degrees East, it will join Inmarsat’s current constellation of 11 geostationary satellites to offer advanced mobile voice and data communications services across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 

“Inmarsat has a long-standing relationship with Arianespace, stretching back to the launch of the very first Inmarsat satellites,” said Eugene Jilg, Chief Technology Officer for Inmarsat.  “Alphasat is the result of an innovative European approach to satellite design and development, and so it is fitting that we have appointed Europe’s leading launch company to provide the essential launch services”.