Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale BAriane 5 ECA Arianespace Launch Status Success Thu · Feb 12th, 2009 5:09 PM EST Mission Hot Bird 10, NSS-9, Spirale A, Spirale B Type: Communications Hot Bird 10 is a French communications satellite operated by Eutelsat. It provides direct to home broadcasting from geostationary orbit at 13 degrees East. NSS9 is a communications satellite owned by SES, operating at 177 degrees West. Spirale is a French government programme to develop an early wanring system which will use infrared satellite imagery to detect the flights of ballistic missiles. This was a demonstration using two micro satellites. 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