Ariane rocket launches Vietnam's first satellite

April 18, 2008 

At 22:17 UTC this evening, Vietnam's first satellite, Vinasat-1 was launched aboard an Ariane 5ECA rocket, from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. 
The launch was conducted by the European organisation Arianespace, and a Brazillian satellite, Star One C-2, was also launched on the same flight. The satellites will be placed into geosynchronous orbits, 35,000 kilometres above the equator, from where they will provide telecommunications services to various parts of the world. Star One C-2 separated from the carrier rocket 26 minutes after lift-off, and Vinasat-1 separated 31 minutes into the flight, completing a successful ascent. 
Vinasat-1 will be operated by the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation. It was constructed by Lockheed Martin, and is based on the A2100A satellite bus. It will provide C and Ku-Band communications. It will be positioned in a geosynchronous orbital slot at 132°E longitude, high above Vietnam. It has an expected on-orbit lifetime of 15 years and weighs 2637 kilograms. The programme was started in 1998, and launch was originally scheduled for 2005, but was delayed due to political issues concerning the communication frequencies that it was to use.
Ariane rocket launches Vietnam 's first satellite April 18 , 2008 At 22:17 UTC this evening , Vietnam 's first satellite , Vinasat-1 was launched aboard an Ariane 5ECA rocket , from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou , French Guiana . The launch was conducted by the European organisation Arianespace , and a Brazillian satellite , Star One C-2 , was also launched on the same flight . The satellites will be placed into geosynchronous orbits , 35,000 kilometres above the equator , from where they will provide telecommunications services to various parts of the world . Star One C-2 separated from the carrier rocket 26 minutes after lift - off , and Vinasat-1 separated 31 minutes into the flight , completing a successful ascent . Vinasat-1 will be operated by the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation . It was constructed by Lockheed Martin , and is based on the A2100A satellite bus . It will provide C and Ku - Band communications . It will be positioned in a geosynchronous orbital slot at 132 ° E longitude , high above Vietnam . It has an expected on - orbit lifetime of 15 years and weighs 2637 kilograms . The programme was started in 1998 , and launch was originally scheduled for 2005 , but was delayed due to political issues concerning the communication frequencies that it was to use .
Ariane rocket
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Vietnam's first satellite
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April 18, 2008
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Vietnam's first satellite
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Vinasat-1
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an Ariane 5ECA rocket
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the Guiana Space Centre
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Kourou
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French Guiana
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The launch
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the European organisation Arianespace
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a Brazillian satellite
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Star
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the same flight
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The satellites
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geosynchronous orbits
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the equator
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they
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telecommunications services
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various parts
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the world
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Star
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the carrier rocket
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lift-off
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Vinasat-1
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31 minutes
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the flight
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a successful ascent
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Vinasat-1
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the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation
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Lockheed Martin
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the A2100A satellite bus
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C
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Ku-Band communications
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a geosynchronous orbital slot
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132°E longitude
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Vietnam
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orbit
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15 years
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2637 kilograms
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The programme
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launch
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political issues
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the communication
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frequencies
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