ARIANESPACE PLANS 12 LAUNCHES IN 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- Arianespace, the company that launched
Malaysia’s Measat 1 and Measat 2 satellites, has planned 12 launches in 2011,
with no less than six via its reliable Ariane 5 launchers.

As of Jan 4, Arianespaces' backlog of orders stood at 29 geostationary
satellites, six Ariane 5 launches of the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) to the
International Space Station, and 18 Soyuz launches – a new record - it said in a
statement Wednesday.

"With 41 successful launches in a row since 2003, Ariane 5 continues to confirm
its technical maturity and demonstrate operational capabilities," Arianespace
added.

Ariane 5 is the only launcher on the market capable of simultaneously launching
two payloads, while also handling a complete range of missions, from commercial
launches into geostationary orbit, to those of scientific spacecraft into
special orbits.

Arianespace is now actively preparing for the maiden launches of Soyuz and Vega
from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.

It said this indicates a complete European family of launch vehicles to enter
service in order to meet new challenges of 2011.

The company is expected to begin operating the Soyuz launch complex in April. It
plans to carry out at least two Soyuz launches during the year from the Guiana
Space Centre.

At the same time, Arianespace has planned three Soyuz launches from the
Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Since being founded in 1980, Arianespace has signed over 300 launch service and
solutions contracts. It has also launched 289 satellites for 78 customers, more
than half of all commercial satellites now in service worldwide.

Arianespace continued its sustained launch rate in 2010, carrying out six Ariane
5 launches, along with one Soyuz launch, to orbit a total of 18 payloads.
-- BERNAMA