International Launch Services (ILS) + Eutelsat… Power Push Planned (Launch)

[SatNews] May 14th is set as the launch date for the EUTELSAT 3D communications satellite by…

…by International Launch Services (ILS) at the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Proton M launch vehicle from launch pad 39. Built by Thales Alenia Space using their Spacebus 4000 platform, the EUTELSAT 3D will bring resources, reach and flexibility for high-growth professional video, data, telecom and broadband services at 3 degrees East, an orbital position that sits at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and Asia. Through a configuration of Ku- and Ka-band transponders connected to three footprints, Eutelsat’s new satellite will serve customers in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. A fourth footprint in the Ku-band will serve customers in sub-Saharan Africa. EUTELSAT 3D will be located at 3 degrees East until the launch in 2014 of EUTELSAT 3B that will further extend coverage to South America and will subsequently continue service at 7 derees East.

The Proton M launch vehicle, using a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the EUTELSAT 3D satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the EUTELSAT 3D satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Separation of the EUTELSAT 3D satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 13 minutes after liftoff.