Ariane rocket launches satellites for Japan, U.S.

(Updates with details, quotes)

By Magali Filou

KOUROU, French Guiana, Aug 14 (Reuters) - A heavy-lift Ariane-5 rocket blasted off from French Guiana on Thursday putting into orbit satellites for Japan's Space Communications Corp. and U.S. operator SES Americom, space officials said.

The rocket was launched from Europe's space base in Kourou on the northeast coast of South America at 5.44 p.m. (2044 GMT).

Billed as a cost effective launcher for large satellites, the Ariane-5 is capable of launching payloads of up to 10 tonnes

Arianespace is 30 percent owned by European aerospace giant EADS (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research).

Twenty-seven minutes after liftoff the rocket released the Superbird-7 satellite to be used for mobile telecommunications throughout Japan.

"After two months, the satellite can be put into full service and replace the previous Superbird satellite," Yucata Nagal, of Tokyo-based Space Communications Corp told reporters after the launch.

Superbird-7 weighed 4.8 metric tonnes (10,500 lb) at launch and was built by Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corp (6503.T: Quote, Profile, Research)