Sea Launch AG has successfully launched the Intelsat 21 satellite from the Equator on the ocean-based Launch Platform Odyssey, completing its 12 mission for Intelsat and marking the completion of Sea Launch’s second of three planned missions in 2012.
The Zenit-3SL rocket carrying the spacecraft lifted off at 23:55 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on
Saturday, August 18 (06:55 UTC/GMT, Sunday, August 19) from the launch platform, positioned at 154 degrees West longitude in the Pacific Ocean. Thirty minutes later, the Block DM-SL upper stage inserted the satellite, weighing 5,982 kilograms (13,188 lbs.) and built by Boeing Satellite Systems Inc., into geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position at 302 degrees East longitude. Intelsat 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 Boeing Satellite Systems.
"We appreciate the trust and confidence that Intelsat has placed in the Sea Launch system and are thrilled to have successfully launched the Intelsat 21 satellite. This is our third mission for Intelsat in the past 11 months, which demonstrates the commitment to schedule and mission assurance by Sea Launch,” Karlsen said. “We are pleased to be a part of Intelsat’s further expansion in the Latin America region. Furthermore, we look forward to the next Intelsat mission on Sea Launch, scheduled to take place in the first quarter of 2013. In addition, I want to personally thank all of the Sea Launch and Energia Logistics team for their unwavering dedication and hard work."
“Intelsat 21 will refresh capacity for one of Latin America’s most popular media distribution neighborhoods, serving the continent’s leading DTH and cable programmers,” said Intelsat SVP and Chief Technical Officer Thierry Guillemin. “The satellite will also provide Ku-band mobility coverage across the busy South Atlantic, meeting the broadband connectivity requirements of our maritime and aeronautical customers.”
Replacing Intelsat 9, Intelsat 21 is designed to provide 18 or more years of service and features C-band services for North America, South America and Europe, and Ku-band services for North America, the Caribbean, Brazil, Europe and Western Africa. Intelsat’s global mobility fabric is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2013.
