- The THOR 5 satellite was lifted into orbit successfully today at 5:34 p.m. local time (6:34 a.m. EST, 11:34 GMT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This is the first mission of the year for International Launch Services (ILS) and the second Proton flight in two weeks. After a 9-hour and 23-minute mission, the launcher released the satellite directly into geostationary orbit. The THOR 5 will operate at 1° W to deliver broadcast and interactive services across the Nordic region, Europe and the Middle East for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting of Norway. The satellite itself was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation and is based on their STAR 2 model. There’s an additional THOR scheduled for launch next year for Telenor—THOR 6. This satellite is based on the Spacebus 4000B2 platform from Thales Alenia Space and will locate at 1° W orbital location. The satellite will be packed with 36 active Ku-band transponders, with 16 pointed to the Nordic countries and 20 positioned for Central and Eastern Europe. The Korou Space Center in French Guiana is the launch location and the satellite will be lofted by either an Ariane 5 or Soyuz rocket. THOR 6 is going to replace THOR III which is scheduled to retire in 2011. THOR 6 has an operational lifetime expectancy of 15 years. Telenor has two main teleports at Nittedal Earth Station north of Oslo, Norway and another at Russell Square in central London. Teleport ops are ongoing in Sofia, Bulgaria as well as Stockholm, Sweden, Copenhagen in Denmark, Helsinki in Finland and Bratislava in Slovakia.
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