International Launch Services (ILS), a world leader in providing mission and launch services to the commercial satellite industry, successfully carried the Ciel II satellite into space for the Ciel Satellite Group of Canada today on Russia's premier heavy-lift launch vehicle, the Proton Breeze M. This was the sixth launch of the year, and 49th overall, for ILS. It is the 340th launch for the Proton system since its inception. The Proton Breeze M vehicle is built by Khrunichev Space Center of Moscow. The Proton vehicle lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 7:43 p.m. local time (8:43 a.m. EST, 13:43 GMT). The launch vehicle carried the 5 1/2-ton satellite for 9 hours and 12 minutes, releasing it into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Ciel II is a Spacebus 4000 model built by Thales Alenia Space. The satellite will ultimately be moved to 129 degrees West longitude, where it will deliver digital television services to Canada and the contiguous United States.
The Canadian Ciel 2 telecommunications satellite aboard a Proton rocket with a Briz-M upper stage was successfully launched at 13:43 GMT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Ciel 2 satellite will be deployed into a geosynchronous orbit and eventually provide telecommunications coverage for North America. The communications satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space (France) for the Canadian Ciel Satellite Group.
Payload: Ciel II communications satellite Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000 C4 Separated spacecraft mass: Approx. 12,260 lbs Launch Vehicle: Proton M/Breeze M Weight at liftoff: 702,000 kg, including payload Height: 58.2 m Launch Date: Dec. 10 (Baikonur, GMT, North America) Launch Time: 19:43 Baikonur 13:43 GMT 08:43 EST Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan Launch Pad 39 Launch Customer: Ciel Satellite Group Toronto, Ontario, Canada Satellite Manufacturer: Thales Alenia Space Cannes, France Launch Vehicle Manufacturer: Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow Launch Services Provider: International Launch Services (ILS), Reston, VA. Satellite Use: Advanced Broadcast Satellite Service satellite delivering high-definition and other TV services throughout North America; anchor customer is DISH Network Corp. Satellite Statistics: -- 32 Ku-band transponders -- Orbital location: 129 degrees West longitude -- Anticipated service life of 16 years Mission Profile: The Proton M launch vehicle, utilising a five-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent trajectory to place the Breeze M fourth stage and the Ciel II satellite into a suborbital trajectory. From there the Breeze M will place itself and the spacecraft into a circular parking orbit. Following four additional burns of the Breeze M, the satellite will be injected into a geostationary transfer orbit. Separation will occur at approximately L+9 hours, 12 minutes. Target Orbit Apogee: 35,603 km at Separation: Perigee: 5,597 km Inclination: 19.5 degrees Spacecraft Separation: Approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff ILS Mission Statistics: -- 6th ILS mission this year -- 15th ILS Proton launch for SES AMERICOM -- 3rd Spacebus 4000 model to launch on Proton -- 49th ILS mission on Proton
Alcatel Alenia Space today announced that it will deliver the high-powered Ciel-2 telecommunication satellite to Ciel Satellite of Canada, the newest member of the SES family. The new spacecraft, expected to launch by late 2008, will be the largest Spacebus class satellite ever built by Alcatel Alenia Space.
Based on Alcatel Alenia Space Spacebus 4000 C4, Ciel-2 will be fitted with 32 Ku-band frequencies, configured into regional and spot beams maximising the frequency reuse up to nine times. At the beginning of its operational life, the spacecraft's payload power will be 10.8 kW and will be positioned at 129°W. Ciel-2 is due to start delivering services into North America in the later part of 2008, with a life time of 16 years.
"As a world-class satellite manufacturer, Alcatel Alenia Space, is a great choice for the construction of Ciel's first permanent spacecraft. In collaboration with our technical and investor partner, SES AMERICOM, we have every confidence that Ciel-2, our first purpose-built satellite, will be a high-performing, reliable spacecraft" - Kevin Smyth, CEO Ciel Satellite.
"This contract further strengthens the solid relationship between our company and the SES family of companies. This was a very competitive and rigorous procurement, so we are pleased to have earned this opportunity to build a satellite for Canada's Ciel Satellite" - Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO of Alcatel Alenia Space.
Ciel 2 is the 5th Spacebus satellite ordered by SES; four are currently operating in the AMERICOM fleet - AMC-5, AMC-9, AMC-12 and AMC-23.
Ciel Satellite LP is Canada's independent satellite facilities operator. Ciel was founded in 2004, received its first licence later that same year and began commercial operations in BSS spectrum from 129 degrees West in August 2005. The partners and shareholders in the Ciel venture are: BPC Telecommunications Corporation, an OMERS corporation, one of Canada's largest pension funds, with more than USD 36 billion in assets; Ottawa-based Smyth Satellite Holdings Ltd., a Canadian satellite and telecommunications company established by Kevin Smyth and Gerry Wall, Ph.D.; 620582 NB Ltd., an investment company led by Brian Neill, the founder and former chairman of Star Choice Communications Inc.; and SES GLOBAL S.A. (Euronext Paris, and Luxembourg stock exchanges: SESG) which owns SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the US, and holds strategic investments in AsiaSat in Asia, Ciel in Canada, NSAB in Europe, and Star One in Latin America.