Intelsat 15 Launch Successful
Offers Fresh Capacity Serving the Middle East, Indian Ocean Region and Russia. A Zenit-3SLB vehicle successfully launched the Intelsat 15 satellite (IS-15) from the Land Launch facilities at the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. Liftoff occurred at 4:00 p.m. ET, followed by signal acquisition and spacecraft separation about six and a half hours later at 10:28 p.m. ET.
The satellite, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, will provide video and data services through its high power Ku-band payload. Once IS-15 is operational, it will replace Intelsat?s 709 satellite at 85º E, and is expected to have a useful life of at least 17 years.
Customers will use IS-15?s capacity to distribute in-demand services that include cellular backhaul, for wireless communications to remote locations; broadband networks for enterprise applications; IP trunking, for robust Internet connectivity; and video services, for DTH programming.
?IS-15 is our second launch of 2009, and the second in an 11-satellite launch campaign, the largest in Intelsat?s history. This spacecraft will have a satellite footprint that covers the majority of the Middle East, the Indian Ocean region and Russia, making it an ideal spacecraft for delivering services to customers operating in these regions,? said Dave McGlade, Intelsat CEO. ?This satellite is also supporting the expansion of government applications in the Indian Ocean region.?
IS-15 Payload to Strengthen SKY Perfect JSAT Broadband Offering Of the IS-15’s 22 Ku-band transponders, five are owned by SKY Perfect JSAT Corp.
?IS-15 will offer SKY Perfect JSAT the ability to provide direct broadband connections between Japan and the coastal countries and sea areas throughout the Indian Ocean region, delivering interactive mobile communications for ships and other vessels at sea,? said Masanori Akiyama, President and CEO of SKY Perfect JSAT.
The IS-15 satellite furthers the strong relationship between Intelsat and SKY Perfect JSAT Corp. Intelsat and JSAT International, the U.S. subsidiary of SKY Perfect JSAT Corp., jointly own the Horizons 1 and Horizons 2 satellites, delivering video and network services throughout North America.
