ILS Proton to Launch Intelsat 21 And Intelsat 23 For Intelsat

March 15, 2010

International Launch Services (ILS) announced two firm missions with the ILS Proton launches of the Intelsat 21 satellite and the Intelsat 23 satellite for Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of fixed satellite services.  Intelsat 21 is under construction by Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems with a launch planned in early 2012. The Intelsat 23 satellite is being built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and is slated to launch in late 2011.

Both missions are part of the Intelsat Multi-Launch Agreement which provides Intelsat the flexibility to substitute another satellite for the Intelsat 21 satellite, or to exercise an additional launch service for this mission.

The Intelsat 21 satellite, weighing 6,300 kg, will be built on the Boeing 702B platform and will be launched aboard an ILS Proton utilizing a 65,000 km super-synchronous transfer orbit. The Intelsat 21 satellite will replace the Intelsat 9 satellite located at 302 degrees East and will provide C- and Ku-band capacity for broadband, video and voice applications with coverage over the Americas and Europe. The Intelsat 23 satellite, weighing 2,730 kg, will be built on the flight proven Orbital Star 2.4E platform with an ILS Proton providing a direct injection into geostationary orbit. Intelsat 23 will provide communications services for the Americas, Europe and Africa with C- and Ku-band coverage at 307 degrees East. 

Frank McKenna, President of ILS said, “With the successful launch of the Intelsat 16 satellite just over a month ago, ILS and Khrunichev are proud to be partnering with Intelsat once again with the Intelsat 21 and Intelsat 23 missions. With ILS Proton, we were able to offer Intelsat unmatched flexibility to accommodate these two missions. The recent launch of Intelsat 16 and these assignments represent the kind of confidence that has made us a preferred launch provider with the largest satellite operator in the world. We look forward to performing flawlessly on both of these new missions for Intelsat to support their continued growth and expansion.”