Eutelsat W2M & Hot Bird 9Ariane 5 ECA Arianespace Launch Status Success Sat · Dec 20th, 2008 5:35 PM EST Mission Eutelsat W2M & Hot Bird 9 Type: Communications EutelSat W2M is a telecommunications satellite opperated by Afghanistan's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. It is used to provide communications services to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Operating at 16 degrees East. Hotbird 9 is a communications satellite operated by Eutelsat, providing communications to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Operating at 13 degrees East. Location Ariane Launch Area 3 Kourou, French Guiana 151 launches have been at this location. Rocket Ariane 5 ECA Length: 57.7 meters Diameter: 5.4 meters First Launched: December 11, 2002 Ariane 5 is a heavy-lift launch vehicle, part of the Ariane rocket family. The Ariane 5 ECA rocket has been launched a total of 73 times with 71 successful and 2 failed launches. Agency Arianespace Type: Commercial Abbreviation: ASA Administration: CEO: Stéphane Israël Founded: 1980 Launchers: Ariane 5 | Vega Spacecraft: Country: FRA Arianespace SA is a multinational company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane programme. Their vehicles launch exclusively from French Guiana in South America. View Rocket Launch Schedule