New satellites launched by Ariane rocket

Space enthusiasts already know that the Ariane-5 rocket recently blasted off from French Guiana on the mission for putting two telecommunications satellites for Africa and North America into orbit. Twenty-seven minutes after its lift-off the Ariane rocket placed into a preliminary orbit the RASCOM-QAF1 satellite.

RASCOM is slated to serve the rural African market overlooked by major commercial operators. This is a 3.2 tonne (7,000 lb) satellite for the Regional African Satellite Communication Organization (RASCOM).