SES S.A. (Paris:SESG.pa)(LuxX:SESG) announces that the SES-3 satellite was successfully launched into space on board an ILS Proton launch vehicle.
The ILS Proton Breeze M was launched from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 5:16 a.m. today local time (1:16 a.m. CET, 7:16 p.m. EDT on July 15). After an 8-hour, 1-minute mission, the Breeze M successfully released the SES-3 satellite directly into geostationary transfer orbit.
The SES-3 satellite was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation based on Orbital’s space-proven Star 2.4 platform, the largest and most powerful geostationary communications satellites Orbital builds. The spacecraft will replace SES’ existing AMC-1 satellite at the orbital position of 103 degrees West, a highly sought after location in the Centre of the North American arc, from where it will provide coverage of North America and the Caribbean. The hybrid satellite carries 24 C-Band transponders and 24 Ku-Band transponders (36 MHz), generates approximately five kilowatts of payload power, and features a design life of 15 years.
SES-3’s C-band transponders will provide service to blue-chip U.S. television networks broadcasting to over 4,350 cable head-ends in the U.S., while its Ku-band transponders will serve a range of enterprise customers with VSAT and broadband services. The cross-strapping capabilities from C- to Ku-band on the spacecraft will enable customers to further optimize their enterprise networks.
“This is our 18th mission with our longstanding partner SES, dating back to the inaugural commercial launch of ILS Proton with SES’ ASTRA 1F satellite 15 years ago. We thank the dedicated team of ILS, Khrunichev, SES and Orbital in successfully launching the second in the series of new generation SES satellites built by Orbital. We look forward to performing all of our upcoming launches for SES,” said ILS President, Frank McKenna.
Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES, stated: “The successful ILS Proton launch of SES-3 marks an important event for SES’ North American customers, as the new satellite will provide seamless continuity to some of our key customers for the next decade and beyond. SES would like to thank ILS and Orbital for a mission delivered on time and according to specifications. Timely access to space is of utmost importance to SES, as we implement the satellite industry’s most important satellite replacement and fleet expansion program. We look forward to continue working with ILS as an essential provider in the launch industry.”
Note to Editors:
The next SES launch is scheduled for the end of July, when an Ariane ECA booster will orbit the ASTRA 1N spacecraft from the European Space Port in Kourou, French Guyana.
About SES
SES (Paris:SESG.pa – News)(LuxX:SESG) wholly owns the market-leading satellite operators SES ASTRA and SES WORLD SKIES, and participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a global fleet of 44 satellites. For further information: www.ses.com
