Arianespace launches two communications satellites

A European rocket carrying two communications satellites was successfully launched last week from South America, an Associated Press report said.

The Associated Press report said Arianespace, the commercial arm of the 13-country European Space Agency, used its Ariane-5 rocket to shuttle the Intelsat 11 into orbit for the international satellite operator Intelsat.

The rocket also carried the Optus D2 satellite for Australian operator Optus, the company said.

The rocket delivered the two satellites during 32 minutes of flight. Both payloads were built by US manufacturer Orbital Sciences at its plant in Dulles, Virginia.

It was the company's fourth launch this year from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, a French overseas department, the report further said.