Arianespace Signs Contract with HUGHES to Launch Jupiter

5 May 2010

Arianespace has been selected by Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) to launch its Ka-Band, high-throughput Jupiter satellite. The contract calls for a launch in the first half of 2012.

Jupiter will weigh approximately 6,100 kgs at liftoff and will be placed into geostationary transfer orbit by the workhorse Ariane 5 ECA from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Built by Space Systems/Loral for Hughes, the high-throughput Jupiter satellite will deliver HughesNet® broadband satellite services in North America, building upon the success of the Hughes SPACEWAY® 3 satellite system. This next-generation satellite is designed with a bent-pipe, multi-spot beam, Ka-band architecture that will offer an extraordinary 100+ Gbps of throughput.

“We are extremely proud that Hughes has decided to entrust Arianespace with launching Jupiter. Our relationship with Hughes was cemented in 2007 when Arianespace successfully launched its SPACEWAY® 3 satellite within six months of contract signature,” said Arianespace Chairman & CEO, Jean-Yves Le Gall. “It is gratifying to be able to call Hughes a repeat customer. We are also pleased to continue having a role in expanding broadband connectivity in North America.”

“Arianespace has won our confidence again to launch a Hughes satellite,” said Pradman Kaul, Chairman & CEO of Hughes. “Jupiter will build upon the success of SPACEWAY® 3, enabling us to deliver even higher speed service offerings and propel us to further strengthen our leadership in the North American market, while also augmenting our Ka-band satellite technology leadership worldwide.”