Ariane 5 successfully launches THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) for Thailand

Kourou, August 11, 2005

Ariane 5 successfully launches THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) for Thailand

Kourou, French Guiana, August 11, 2005 - Arianespace today successfully
lofted the THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) spacecraft on an Ariane 5 mission that carried
the largest commercial communications satellite ever placed in geostationary
transfer orbit (GTO).

The 18th successful launch for Arianespace's Ariane 5G vehicle

With its 18th successful mission, the standard Ariane 5G Generic launcher
continues to demonstrate its technical and operational maturity.
Furthermore, with its large 5-meter diameter payload fairing, Ariane 5 is
the only launcher available on the commercial market capable of launching
massive satellites such as THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR).

Offering unexcelled reliability and availability, the Ariane 5G and Ariane 5
ECA versions continue to set the global standard for all major
telecommunications operators.

Serving a faithful customer: Thailand's Shin Satellite Public Company
Limited

The choice of Ariane by Shin Satellite Plc reflects international
recognition of Arianespace's top-flight launch service.

THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) is the fourth satellite launched by Arianespace for the
Thai operator. It follows THAICOM 1 in 1993, THAICOM 2 in 1994 and THAICOM 3
in 1997 - all of which were launched by Ariane vehicles.

Shin Satellite Plc. is one of the leading satellite operators in Asia, and
its current constellation of three THAICOM spacecraft provides
telecommunications services over Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East
and most of Europe.

The Ariane 5/THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) flight at a glance

The mission was carried out by an Ariane 5 Generic launcher from Europe's
Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Liftoff was on Thursday, August 11, 2005
at 5:20 a.m. local time in Kourou (4:20 a.m. in Washington, D.C., at 08h20
GMT, 10:20 a.m. in Paris and 3:20 p.m. in Bangkok).

Provisional parameters at injection of the Ariane 5's storable propellant
upper stage we
Perigee: 574.8 km for a target of 575 km (±3 km)
Apogee: 35,875 km for a target of 35,894 km (±160 km)
Inclination: 6.98 degrees for a target of 7.00 degrees (±0.06º)

THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) uses the 1300 platform built by Space Systems/Loral
(SS/L) in Palo Alto, California. The largest communications satellite ever
built and launched, it weighed 6,485 kilograms (14,300 lb.) at launch.
THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) has a mission life of 12 years.

THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR) will provide Internet access and broadband services to
businesses and consumers thanks to 84 spot beams, 3 shaped beams and 7
regional broadcast beams covering 14 countries in the Asia Pacific region

--
--------------

Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info