Ariane rocket launches two Asian satellites

An Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched two Asian telecoms satellites into orbit from the Kourou space centre in French Guiana, European operator Arianespace announced. The second Ariane launch of the year lifted off at 7:13 pm local time (2213 GMT). It placed into orbit two geostationary satellites -- the JCSAT-13 for the Japanese SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and the VINASAT-2 of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group. The 4.5-tonne Japanese satellite, replace an existing orbiter, will provide television services for the whole of the country, as well as for Southeast Asia. The smaller Vietnamese version will provide television, radio and telephone services in Vietnam.