The launch of the Ariane 5 ECA, lofting the Satmex 6 and Thaicom 5 satellites into geostationary orbits, will mark the second of the year for Arianespace from Europe's Spaceport, and the company said it is planning four more launches in 2006.

Satmex 6 is based on a Space Systems/Loral FS-1300X satellite bus. It carries 36 C-band transponders for Continental U.S. and South America and Continental coverage, along with and 24 Ku-Band transponders serving the U.S., Mexico and Continental regions, with a hot spot over the major cities in South America.

The satellite will have a mass at liftoff of approximately 6.3 tons (5,700 kilograms), and will be operated by Mexico's Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.

Thaicom 5, which will weigh approximately 2.8 tons (2,500 kilograms) at liftoff, will join the satellite fleet of Thailand's Shin Satellite Public Company Limited. THAICOM 5 is equipped with 14 Ku-band transponders and 24 C-band transponders.

The May 26 mission follows the March 11 dual-payload launch of the Spainsat and Hot Bird 7A telecom platforms, which also were placed by an Ariane 5 into geostationary transfer orbits.

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