Early this morning, an Ariane 5 launcher lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place two telecommunications satellites, JCSAT-13 and Vinasat-2, into their planned transfer orbits.

Liftoff of flight VA206, the 62nd Ariane 5 mission, came at 22:13 GMT (00:13 CEST; 19:13 French Guiana). The target injection orbit had a perigee altitude of 249.9 km, an apogee altitude at injection of 35 911 km and an inclination of 2°.

The satellites were accurately injected into their transfer orbits about 26 minutes and 36 minutes after liftoff, respectively.

JCSAT-13 will be positioned above the equator at 124°E. It will deliver direct TV broadcast links to Japan and will meet satellite demands in Southeast Asia.

Vinasat-2, to be positioned at 131.8°E, will provide radio, television and telephone links to Vietnam.

The payload mass for this launch was 8381 kg; the satellites totalled 7563 kg, with payload adapters and dispensers making up the additional 818 kg.