Ariane V launches two communications satellites, June 18, 2016.
Flight VA 230 launch EchoStar XVIII and BRISat into Geostationary Transfer Orbit. The two spacecraft combined weighted more than 21,700 pounds, the largest commercial payload Ariane V has ever launched.
Saturday’s flight marked the 72nd consecutive successful Ariane V flight, and the 230th of the rocket. EchoStar XVIII will support DirecTV access to their 14 million customers, as well as solidifies coverage for the growing Cuban market.
BRISat is the first satellite owned and operated by a financial institution, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, bringing secure banking connections to their more than 60 million customers in the Indonesian region.





