France In Space #192 – 29 Jan 2002

1: ARIANE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES INSAT 3C

3: EADS ACQUIRES INTERESTS IN HISPASAT , EUTELSAT INCREASES ITS STAKE

** 1: ARIANE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES INSAT 3C

On January 23, Arianespace launched the Indian Space Research
Organization’s (ISRO) INSAT 3C communications satellite from Europe’s
Spaceport in French Guiana. INSAT 3C is the eighth Indian satellite placed
into orbit by an Ariane rocket. This time, an Ariane 42L configuration of
the Ariane 4 launcher equipped with two liquid propellant strap-on boosters
was used. Flight 147 continues the long-standing relationship between
Arianespace and the ISRO, which dates back to the launch of India’s first
satellite, Apple, in June 1981. INSAT 3C was assembled and integrated by
the ISRO in Bangalore, southern India. Weighing 2750 kg at liftoff, it will
be positioned at 74 degrees East and will provide telecommunications and
television transmission services for the Indian subcontinent. ISRO’s ninth
satellite, INSAT 3A, is to be orbited by Arianespace later this year,
followed by the tenth, INSAT 3E, in 2003.
[Arianespace Press Release, 01/23/2002]

** 2: GALILEO : NO NEED FOR A UNANIMOUS APPROVAL

In Brussels on Monday, the Spanish chairmanship of the European Union
reminded that the European satellite navigation project, Galileo, currently
impeded by some EU member States, did not need to be unanimously approved
by the fifteen member States to be launched. “I wish to help the Commission
to find the arguments, which, if not approved unanimously, could at least
bring the required majority”, declared Fransisco Alvarez Casco, Spanish
Minister of Transportation, to the media, following a hearing before a
commission of the European Parliament. M. Cascos reminded also that three
countries were still holding back their go-decision to the Galileo project,
namely Germany, the United-Kingdom and the Netherlands. A bilateral meeting
with the German Minister of Transportation has been planned for February 4
and 5 in Madrid.

[AFP du 21/01/2002]

** 3: EADS ACQUIRES INTERESTS IN HISPASAT , EUTELSAT INCREASES ITS STAKE

On January 18, the Spanish satellite operator, Hispasat, announced that
EADS, the European Aeronautics Defense and Space Company, will pick up 5%
of its equity. According to a press release, this will take the form of a
taking up of part of the increase of Hispasat’s capital and a sale of
Hispasat’s bonds held by Admira (Telefonia) and Auna, two Spanish groups,
and Banco Cilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), a bank. With EADS entering into
its capital, Hispasat reached its development objectives. On January 24,
Eutelsat announced that its stake in Hispasat will be increased to a
minimum of 27% from 21.5%, thereby consolidating its position as a key
strategic shareholder of the Spanish satellite operator. In 2001, Hispasat
signed with Eutelsat a strategic alliance agreement.
|AFP, 01/18/20002 and Eutelsat Press Release, 01/24/2002]

[From Agence France Presse (AFP), Arianespace Press Release, Eutelsat Press
Release (Eutelsat)]