PARIS — An International Launch Services (ILS) Proton M/Breeze M rocket launched the QuetzSat-1 telecommunications satellite from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, releasing the SES spacecraft into geostationary transfer orbit following a 9-hr. 13-min. mission, the companies announced Sept. 30.
QuetzSat-1, the fourth satellite SES has launched this year, is an all Ku-band, 20-kw broadcasting satellite contracted to EchoStar. Based on Space Systems/Loral’s 1300 satellite bus, it will cover Mexico, the U.S. and Central America with 32 Ku-band transponders providing advanced direct-to-home television over its 15-year design life.
Liftoff took place at 12:32 a.m. local time Sept. 30 (2:32 p.m. EDT Sept. 29). The ILS launch is the first for the Reston, Va.-based company since August, when a workmanship error caused a Proton M/Breeze M to deliver the Astrium-built Express-AM4 telecommunications satellite into the wrong orbit during a mission led by the Russian Federation. The Proton mishap delayed ILS’s launch of QuetzSat-1 by roughly three weeks.
“We are honored to partner with industry innovator SES in launching over one-third of their operational fleet on ILS Proton over the past 15 years,” ILS President Frank McKenna said in a statement. “QuetzSat-1 is a very important satellite to SES and their customer EchoStar, and ILS has worked in partnership to make this launch a success.”
SES plans to launch the SES-4 satellite atop an ILS Proton from Baikonur in late November.
QuetzSat-1 artist's concept: Space Systems/Loral
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