On August 4, 2010 at 20:59 UTC the Arian 5 rocket-carrier was launched from the French Cosmodrome in Kourou, French Guiana.
The rocket-carrier orbited 2 African communications satellites.
Both satellites were built by Thales Alenia Space of France.
The Nilesat 201 satellite will enter service at 7 degrees west longitude, joining two other Nilesat spacecraft and a European-owned satellite to provide direct-to-home television, radio and broadband Internet services to Africa and the Middle East.
The Rascom-QAF 1R satellite will be stationed at 2.85 degrees east longitude with 12 C-band and eight Ku-band transponders, beaming television, telephone and Internet services across Africa. Attachments: | 
