Ariane satellite launch successful

Ariane-4 and its two satellites takeoff

KOUROU, French Guiana -- An European Ariane-4 rocket successfully placed two communications satellites into orbit.

The estimated $300 million operation sent into space a JCSAT-8 satellite which will provide telecommunications services throughout the Asia-Pacific region for Japan's JSAT Corporation.

A second satellite separated from the rocket, ASTRA 3A, which was for the Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES-ASTRA.

It will service German-speaking areas of Europe with television and direct-to-home broadband services.

The Ariane-4 rocket blasted off from Kourou, French Guiana, off the South American coast, late on Thursday in the fourth such launch this year.

Both satellites, built by the American company Boeing, moved into geostationary orbit 26 minutes and 55 seconds after liftoff, officials told The Associated Press.

The launch was the 149th mission since the 13-member European Space Agency began unmanned rocket launches in 1979.

The next launch is set for April 16 using another Ariane-4 rocket, said Arianespace -- ESA's commercial arm.

Arianespace, the French company that launches and markets Ariane rockets, said it is set to launch a further 37 satellites for the International Space Station and hopes to benefit from Europe's planned Galileo global positioning satellite system.