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LONG BEACH, Calif.: In an agreement signed with Intelsat in January, Sea Launch will deliver two communications satellites built by Orbital Sciences Corporation to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. These Land Launch missions are currently planned for 2009 and serve to re-purpose manifest slots previously planned for two other Intelsat spacecraft.
The Intelsat 15 (IS-15) satellite will replace Intelsat 709 currently positioned at 85 degrees East Longitude. The high power Ku-band payload will provide video and data services for the Middle East, Indian Ocean Regions and Russia. Based on Orbital's STAR(TM) spacecraft bus, IS-15 will produce 4.6 kW of payload power and feature two 2.3 meter dual-grid deployable reflectors as well as one 1.4 meter dual-grid deck-mounted antenna.
The Intelsat 16 (IS-16) satellite will provide Direct-To-Home (DTH) transponder capacity for DIRECTV subsidiaries. IS-16 will provide in-orbit backup and additional transponder capacity for both Brazil and Mexico. The payload is designed to provide 24 Ku transponders over Brazil for Sky Brasil at 43.1 degrees West Longitude or capacity coverage over Mexico and Gulf of Mexico regions at 58 degrees West Longitude.
“We are very pleased to be able to re-negotiate these manifest slots with Intelsat, further reflecting our strong relationship with them. Intelsat continues to demonstrate their confidence in our Land Launch services and in our team.”
The Land Launch system uses a Zenit-3SLB vehicle to launch medium weight satellites from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. Both the satellites and the launch vehicles will be integrated and launched from the Zenit processing and launch facilities at Baikonur.
Based on the collaboration of the Sea Launch Company and Space International Services (SIS), of Moscow, Land Launch is designed to meet the launch needs of an emerging market for dedicated commercial launches in the medium spacecraft mass range. Sea Launch and SIS provide commercial customers with mission management. SIS is also responsible for hardware production and launch operations.
Sea Launch Company, LLC
