Arianespace Takes Intelsat 17 from SeaLaunch
Arianespace has replaced Sea Launch as the launch provider for Intelsat 17. It was the fourth telecom satellite contract of the year for Arianespace. The Paris-based company also was chosen earlier this year to orbit 10 Galileo satellite-navigation spacecraft. Intelsat 17 was initially supposed to be orbited by Sea Launch. However, the U.S.-Russian company has yet to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. And although it filed a reorganization plan on May 12, President/General Manager Kjell Karlsen does not expect the company to return to service before the second or third quarter of 2011, which would be too late to meet Intelsat 17’s anticipated late 2010 flight date. (5/17)
