Eutelsat has assigned the launch of its EUTELSAT 70B (ex. W5A) communications satellite to Sea Launch to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2012. The launch will occur from Sea Launch’s launch platform Odyssey at its equatorial launch site, located at 154 degrees West longitude, in the international waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The EUTELSAT 70B satellite is being built by Astrium, an EADS company and is based on the Eurostar-3000 platform. Weighing over 5,200 kilograms at lift-off, it will be lofted into an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit on board the Zenit-3SL whose high performance should enable the satellite to exceed its designed in-orbit lifetime of 15 years.
EUTELSAT 70B is designed to optimise resources from a single orbital slot at the crossroads between Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. With high frequency reuse, four powerful regional beams connected to 48 Ku-band transponders will be located on a single platform. It will more than double current Eutelsat capacity at 70.5 degrees East for data and government services, broadband access, GSM backhauling and professional video exchanges.
“Our close coordination with RSC Energia in assuring production scheduling and mission assurance for Sea Launch missions continues to provide value for our customers,” said Kjell Karlsen, President of Sea Launch AG. “We are very pleased to be selected by Eutelsat for this important mission.”
David Bair, Eutelsat Chief Technical Officer added “Sea Launch and RSC Energia executed a flawless launch of our EUTELSAT 16A satellite in October 2011. We look forward to working closely with the team again on the EUTELSAT 70B campaign and to seeing this new satellite strengthen our in-orbit resources and flexibility.”
About Sea Launch AG
Sea Launch AG, headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, provides strategic end-to-end launch solutions to the industry’s satellite operator community based on the venerable Zenit launch system. These services include the provision of all-inclusive launch services as well as schedule assurance, financing, risk management; insurance and creative contracting solutions to meet the changing demands of the commercial launch market. Sea Launch AG owns and manages the primary technology, patent and other intellectual property and tangible assets of the company. These include the launch platform Odyssey and the Sea Launch Commander vessels located in the Home Port facility in Long Beach, California, and the unique know-how associated with launching satellites from an ocean-based launch platform located directly on the equator. Sea Launch AG contracts directly and exclusively with Energia Logistics Ltd. as its technical partner for the delivery and execution of Sea Launch Zenit-3SL launch services. The Sea Launch system offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications satellites, providing diversity of supply, affordability and flexibility for the industry’s satellite operators. For more information, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com.
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 28 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world’s three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. As of 31 December 2011, Eutelsat’s satellites were broadcasting more than 4,000 television channels. They also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat’s broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates access to high speed internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ just over 700 commercial, technical and operational professionals from 30 countries.
