On May 20, 2011 at 20:38 UTC the Ariane-5ECA rocket-carrier was launched from the Kourou space center in French Guiana.
The rocket orbited 2 communications satellites (ST-2 and GSAT-8) to reach customers in Asia, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.
ST 2 was made by the Japanese Mitsubishi Electric Company and will be operated by ST 2 Satellite Ventures, a joint company formed by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., or SingTel, and Chunghwa Telecom Co. of Taiwan. The spacecraft has a design life of 15 years.
India's GSAT 8 satellite will be ready for communications duties by mid-June to start a 12-year mission beaming broadcast and navigation signals. GSAT 8 is one of the heaviest and highest powered satellites that ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) has ever built. Attachments: | 
