kourou – The Mail & Guardian

/ 23 December 2007

Rocket launches African, N American satellites

An Ariane-5 rocket blasted off from French Guiana on Friday putting into orbit telecommunications satellites for Africa and North America, space officials said. Rascom, a 3,2 tonne satellite for the Regional African Satellite Communication Organisation, is slated to serve the rural African market overlooked by major commercial operators.

By Laurent Marot

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Article

/ 22 December 2007

First Africa telecoms satellite enters orbit

An Ariane 5 rocket blasted off in French Guiana on Friday to put into orbit the first African telecommunications satellite as well as another made by a United States-Japanese joint venture, Arianespace said. The rocket, the 36th launch of an Ariane 5 and the sixth this year, lifted off at 9.42pm GMT.

By Staff Reporter