Arianespace.

Spanish operator Hispasat has chosen Arianespace to launch its new communications satellite, Amazonas-2. The launch contract for Amazonas-2 is the 13th contract signed by Arianespace in 2007. The satellite will be launched by an Ariane 5 during the summer of 2009 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Astrium will construct the Amazonas-2 satellite using a Eurostar E3000 platform. It will weigh about 5,400 kg at launch.

Fitted with 54 Ku-band transponders and 10 C-band transponders, Amazonas-2 will provide a wide range of communications services for Brazil, as well as North and South America in general. It has a design life of 15 years and will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 61 degrees West. Amazonas-2 will be the fifth Spanish satellite launched by Arianespace. The European launcher had already orbited the Hispasat 1A and 1B satellites in 1992 and 1993 respectively. In 2005 and 2006, Arianespace has also launched XTAR-Eur and Spainsat. Arianespace currently holds a steady order backlog of more than 20 Ariane 5 missions and nearly 10 Soyuz fliqhts, which represents more than three years of launch activity.