BERN, Switzerland, September 2, 2011 – The spacecraft for the 5th Land Launch mission contracted for launch by Sea Launch AG has been delivered to the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch complex in Kazakhstan.
The Intelsat 18 communications satellite arrived on an Antonov-124 cargo plane at the launch site, with representatives from Intelsat; Orbital Sciences, the satellite provider; and Energia Logistics Ltd., Sea Launch AG’s prime contractor, on hand to receive the spacecraft and its associated support equipment.
Following customs clearance, the satellite and equipment were delivered to the clean room of the Payload Processing Facility at Site 45, where mission operations and integration efforts are now underway. The launch of Intelsat 18 is scheduled for early October 2011.
Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, Intelsat 18 is one of 10 STAR GEO communications satellites ordered by Intelsat and will carry a C-band and a Ku-band payload and be located in an orbital slot at 180 ° E. Intelsat 18 will have a launch mass of 3,200 kg (7,055 lb.) and is designed for 15 years of service. Intelsat18’s C-band payload will serve Eastern Asia, the Pacific and the Western United States, and its Ku-band payload will serve French Polynesia, Eastern Australia and the United States.
The Intelsat 18 communications satellite arrived on an Antonov-124 cargo plane at the launch site, with representatives from Intelsat; Orbital Sciences, the satellite provider; and Energia Logistics Ltd., Sea Launch AG’s prime contractor, on hand to receive the spacecraft and its associated support equipment.
Following customs clearance, the satellite and equipment were delivered to the clean room of the Payload Processing Facility at Site 45, where mission operations and integration efforts are now underway. The launch of Intelsat 18 is scheduled for early October 2011.
Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, Intelsat 18 is one of 10 STAR GEO communications satellites ordered by Intelsat and will carry a C-band and a Ku-band payload and be located in an orbital slot at 180 ° E. Intelsat 18 will have a launch mass of 3,200 kg (7,055 lb.) and is designed for 15 years of service. Intelsat18’s C-band payload will serve Eastern Asia, the Pacific and the Western United States, and its Ku-band payload will serve French Polynesia, Eastern Australia and the United States.