Intelsat 18 Satellite Successfully Launched by Sea Launch
BERN, Switzerland, October 6, 2011 – Sea Launch AG has successfully completed its 5th Land Launch mission with the successful launch of the Intelsat 18 communications satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch complex in Kazakhstan. Lift-off of the rocket occurred at 03:00 ALMT (21:00 UTC/GMT on October 5th), with spacecraft separation at 09:34 ALMT (03:34 UTC/GMT).
Following closely the successful mission performed for Eutelsat S.A just twelve days previously from the Odyssey Launch Platform, this launch marks Sea Launch’s second mission since returning to launch operations following re-organization in late 2010.
“We are most pleased to extend our congratulations and thanks to Intelsat and Orbital for this stellar achievement,” said Aiaz Bakasov, CEO of Sea Launch AG. “Sea Launch is privileged to share this success with Intelsat and looks forward to extending our long-standing relationship with many more successful launches in close cooperation with RSC Energia.”
President of Sea Launch AG Kjell Karlsen continues: “Our entire team thanks you for your continuing trust and confidence in our system and the services we provide. Finally, I wish to congratulate the Sea Launch and Energia Logistics teams, RSC Energia, and all of our suppliers and contractors who support us and contribute to our mutual success.”
Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, Intelsat 18 will have a useful life of nearly 17 years. The satellite carries Ku- and C-band payloads, and will be located in an orbital slot at 180° East.
Specially shaped Ku-band beams will provide DTH services to Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia and dozens of other islands in the region, while also supporting maritime services in the South Pacific. The satellite’s C-band antennas will blanket the western United States, eastern Asia and the Pacific Ocean with high-speed data connectivity.
“Intelsat 18 will provide capacity specifically designed for our customers to offer enhanced media content delivery and broadband services across the Pacific Ocean region,” said Intelsat SVP and CTO Thierry Guillemin. “We thank Sea Launch for successfully launching our spacecraft, and are glad to count them again as one of our trusted providers of access to space.”
About Intelsat
Intelsat is the leading provider of satellite services worldwide. For over 45 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet Service Providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video, data and voice services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and broadband access, with Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far.
About Sea Launch AG
Sea Launch AG, headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, provides corporate sales, marketing, contracting and management for launch services based on the highly-proven and reliable Zenit-3SL and 3SLB launch systems which have flown 36 missions, providing diversity of supply, affordability, flexibility and assured access to space for the industry’s satellite operators.
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Contact:
Peter Stier, VP of Sales & Marketing
Phone: +41 31 380 00 08
peter.stier@sea-launch.ch