Ariane 5 V163

Launch of Ariane 5 V163 on 18 July 2004 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, carrying Telesat's Anik F2 payload and placing the 5950 kg spacecraft into geostationary transfer orbit.

Anik F2 is the heaviest commercial telecommunications satellite ever launched, and will provide high-speed internet and digital communications from a final orbital position of 111.1 deg. West. It uses the Boeing 702 satellite bus and carries a mixed payload of 32 Ku-band transponders, 38 Ka-band transponders and 24 C-band transponders. Flight 163 marked the 15th successful mission of the Ariane 5 (Generic) launch vehicle.