Sea Launch Successfully Delivers the Intelsat 19 Spacecraft into Orbit
June 1, 2012
Sea Launch AG has successfully launched the Intelsat 19 satellite from the Equator on the ocean-based Launch Platform Odyssey, completing its eleventh mission for Intelsat S.A. and marking Sea Launch’s first of three planned missions in 2012.
The Zenit-3SL rocket carrying the spacecraft lifted off at 22:23 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on Thursday, May 31(05:23 UTC/GMT, Friday, June 1) from the launch platform, positioned at 154 degrees West longitude in the international waters of the Pacific Ocean. One hour later, the Block DM-SL upper stage inserted the satellite, weighing 5,600 kilograms (12,345 lbs.) and built by Space Systems/Loral, into geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position at 166 degrees East longitude. Operators at the Intelsat Launch Control Center acquired the spacecraft’s first signals from orbit shortly after spacecraft separation. All systems performed nominally throughout the launch mission.
Following acquisition of the spacecraft's signal, Kjell Karlsen, president of Sea Launch AG, congratulated Intelsat and Space Systems/Loral.
"We are thrilled to complete our eleventh successful launch for Intelsat," Karlsen said. "We look forward to our next Intelsat mission in the third quarter of 2012, as well as future launches with our long-time colleagues at Space Systems/Loral. The Sea Launch and Energia Logistics teams have successfully met our commitments once again, and I want to personally thank all of them for their unwavering dedication and hard work."
Built by Space Systems/Loral, Intelsat 19 will provide C- and Ku-band capacity for media, government and network services customers in the western United States and the Asia-Pacific region, hosting video neighborhoods with global programmers such as Discovery, Turner and Disney. It also carries three specially designed Ku-band mobility beams that will provide maritime and aeronautical users with always-on broadband connectivity throughout the northern and southwestern Pacific Ocean.
Once operational in July, Intelsat 19 will replace Intelsat 8 at 166° East and is expected to have a useful life of more than 18 years.
"Intelsat 19 will host a prime video neighborhood, with C-band capacity providing enhanced performance for distribution of international video content throughout the Asia-Pacific region and increased Ku-band capacity optimized for DTH," said Intelsat CEO Dave McGlade. "Additionally, this satellite is a critical element of what will be the world's first single operator global broadband mobility network when it is completed in early 2013."
Intelsat plans to launch three more satellites this year - Intelsat 20, Intelsat 21 and Intelsat 23 - all of which are scheduled for launch in the third quarter.
