ILS PROTON SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES ASIASAT 5 SATELLITE International Launch Services (ILS), a world leader in providing mission and launch services to the commercial satellite industry, successfully carried the AsiaSat 5 satellite into orbit today on an ILS Proton for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) of Hong Kong. This was the fourth commercial mission of the year for ILS and the sixth successful Proton launch of 2009. From contract signing to launch, the full integration of the AsiaSat 5 mission was completed in less than six months. The ILS Proton Breeze M launched from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 1:47 a.m. today local time (3:47 a.m. in Hong Kong, August 12, 19:47 GMT, August 11 and 3:47 p.m. EDT, August 11). After a 9 hour 15 minute mission, the Breeze M successfully released the AsiaSat 5 satellite, weighing over 3.7 metric tons, into geo-transfer orbit.
Proton-M with space satellite AsiaSat-5 launched from Baikonur Proton-M rocket with the booster block Breeze-M and communication space satellite AsiaSat -5 were launched today at 01.47 Astana time from cosmodrome Baikonur, the agency reports citing Roscosmos press service.
The AsiaSat 5 telecommunications satellite aboard a Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage is scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on the 10th August, 2009. The satellite is a replacement for AsiaSat 2. AsiaSat 5 will operate at the orbital location of 100.5 degrees east, and provide communications services for Asia.
Space Systems/Loral Delivers AsiaSat 5 to Baikonur Launch Base Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications and the world's leading provider of high-power commercial satellites, today announced that it shipped a new communications satellite built for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) to the Baikonur Space Centre in Kazakhstan, where it is scheduled to launch in early- to mid-August aboard a ILS Proton Breeze M launch vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS).
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (NASDAQ: LORL), today announced that it has been chosen by Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), Hong Kong, to build AsiaSat 5, a new generation communications satellite designed to offer improved power and coverage to AsiaSat's customers across the Asia Pacific region.
"Space Systems/Loral has a well-established history of providing satellites for many of the premier operators in the Asia Pacific region. We look forward to continuing that heritage by building this new addition to the AsiaSat fleet" - Pat DeWitt, president, Space Systems/Loral.
AsiaSat 5, a fixed satellite services (FSS) spacecraft expected to launch in 2008, will replace and expand upon the services provided by AsiaSat 2 at 100.5 degrees East longitude. The satellite will be based on SS/L's 1300 platform, which features qualified, flight proven subsystems and a long record of reliable operation.
"We selected SS/L to build the AsiaSat 5 satellite after a long evaluation and are very happy with the technology and value they provide to AsiaSat. We are especially pleased with SS/L's record of building reliable and flexible satellites and its commitment to stand behind each product. We look forward to bringing to our customers in Asia the improved services this satellite will offer" - Peter Jackson, CEO, AsiaSat.
The satellite's payload will carry both C- and Ku-band transponders and has a 15-year mission life. AsiaSat 5 will be compatible with a range of commercial launch vehicles. AsiaSat, the leading regional satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world's population with its three satellites, AsiaSat 2, AsiaSat 3S and AsiaSat 4. The AsiaSat satellite system provides services to both the broadcast and telecommunications industries. Over 240 digital television channels and 130 radio channels are now delivered by the company's satellites, reaching over 96 million households, with more than 360 million viewers across the Asia Pacific region. Many telecommunications customers use AsiaSat for services such as public telephone networks, private VSAT networks and high speed Internet and multimedia services. AsiaSat is a wholly owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited.
Space Systems/Loral is a premier designer, manufacturer, and integrator of powerful satellites and satellite systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services that include mission control operations and procurement of launch services. Based in Palo Alto, California, US, the company has an international base of commercial and governmental customers whose applications include broadband digital communications, direct-to-home broadcast, defence communications, environmental monitoring, and air traffic control. SS/L satellites have amassed more than 1,200 years of on-orbit service. Loral Space & Communications is a high technology company that concentrates primarily on satellite manufacturing and satellite-based services.