Built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), Orion 2 features 36 high-powered Ku-band transponders. It was launched into the orbital slot located at 15 degrees west longitude, where in-orbit testing will be conducted. Loral was in negotiations with Eutelsat, also a satellite services provider, to complete coordination of the Orion 2 satellite with the Eutelsat spacecraft in the region.

The Ariane 4 was an expendable space launch system, developed by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the French space agency, for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was manufactured by ArianeGroup and marketed by Arianespace. Since its first flight on 15 June 1988 until the final flight on 15 February 2003, it attained 113 successful launches out of 116 total launches.

Arianespace SA is a multinational company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane programme. Their vehicles launch exclusively from French Guiana in South America.