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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ariane sends satellites to orbit | Ariane sends satellites to orbit |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The European heavy-lift rocket Ariane 5 has been launched from French Guiana to put two satellites in orbit. | The European heavy-lift rocket Ariane 5 has been launched from French Guiana to put two satellites in orbit. |
| One of the spacecraft, WildBlue, will provide broadband internet access to rural areas of the US and Canada. | |
| The second, from telecoms company SES Americom, will provide communications to the US and western hemisphere. | The second, from telecoms company SES Americom, will provide communications to the US and western hemisphere. |
| The launch, the 30th for the Ariane 5 rocket, was the final one of the year from the European Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. | The launch, the 30th for the Ariane 5 rocket, was the final one of the year from the European Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. |
| The rocket launched on schedule at 1908 local time (2208 GMT). | The rocket launched on schedule at 1908 local time (2208 GMT). |
| The WildBlue satellite was released 27 minutes after take-off, five minutes ahead of the SES American satellite, AMC-18. | The WildBlue satellite was released 27 minutes after take-off, five minutes ahead of the SES American satellite, AMC-18. |
| The Ariane launch was the 174th mission since the European space consortium, Arianespace, was formed in 1980. | The Ariane launch was the 174th mission since the European space consortium, Arianespace, was formed in 1980. |