PARIS, October 2 (RIA Novosti) - An Ariane-5 rocket has orbited two satellites, one civilian and one military, from the Kourou space center in French Guiana, the French satellite launch firm Arianespace said.
The mission carried the Amazonas 2 civilian relay platform for Spain's Hispasat operator and the German COMSATBw-1 military communications satellite for the German Defense Ministry.
The COMSATBw-1 satellite for the Bundeswehr was created by European company Thales Alenia Space and EADS Astrium. The satellite will be joined by COMSATBw-2 in 2010.
The system, to operate from late 2010, will allow Germany's armed forces to use secure satellite communications, transmitting voice, data, video and multimedia.
This was the 191st launch of the Ariane type rocket and the 47th launch of an Ariane-5 rocket. In 2009 Arianespace launched five Ariane-5s and plans another two launches.
