Ariane rocket launches Eutelsat satellite

KOUROU, French Guiana (Reuters) -- Western Europe's 132nd Ariane rocket blasted off on Wednesday from French Guiana to place in orbit a satellite for the Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat.

The Ariane-4 rocket lifted off from the European Space Agency (ESA) launch center in Kourou, French Guiana, on the northeast coast of South America at 7:33 p.m. (2233 GMT).

Twenty minutes after launch, space officials said the W1 satellite separated from the rocket.

W1 will provide multimedia services over Europe and parts of Africa. It was built by the newly created Astrium company formed in the aftermath of Europe's recent consolidation in the aerospace sector.

Wednesday's launch was the sixth Ariane mission this year and the 56th consecutive successful launch of an Ariane-4 rocket.

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