The Land Launch Zenit-3SLB system today successfully inserted Telesat’s Telstar 11N communications satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit from the Zenit launch site at the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. All systems performed as planned.
A Zenit-3SLB vehicle lifted off the from the Land Launch pad at the Baikonur Space Center at 10:30 am Pacific Time (18:30 GMT) on its way to a final orbital position of 37.5 degrees West Longitude. The 4,012 kg (8,845 lb) Telstar 11N spacecraft separated from the Block DM-3SLB upper stage about six hours later, with Telesat’s tracking station at Gnangara (near Perth), Australia, acquiring the first signals from orbit.
“Congratulations to Telesat and to Space Systems/Loral, and to the entire Land Launch team for achieving this success,” said President and General Manager of Sea Launch Kjell Karlsen. “This significant accomplishment represents the work of Space International Services, based in Moscow, and its collaboration with the Sea Launch partnership. Our Land Launch service responds to our customers’ requirements for reliable, single-payload capabilities in the medium-weight commercial satellite market.”
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) built the Telstar 11N satellite on its 1300 series platform for Telesat, one of the world's leading fixed satellite services operators, to provide state-of-the-art satellite capacity for a broad range of video and data applications that connect the continents of North America, Europe and Africa. The spacecraft has 39 high-power Ku-band transponders as well as a unique Atlantic Ocean beam, which will support growing demand for mobile broadband from maritime and aeronautical markets. It has a 15-year design life.
"We thank Sea Launch and Space International Services (SIS), their Land Launch partner, for their dedication in providing a successful mission and we also thank Space Systems/Loral," said Telesat President and CEO Dan Goldberg. "This is Telesat's first time using the Zenit-3SLB vehicle at the Baikonur Space Center and we are obviously very pleased with the outcome today.”
