Sea launch

Sea Launch has successfully launched the Intelsat 21 satellite aboard a Zenit 3SL launch vehicle from the Odyssey mobile platform, in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Sea Launch president, Kjell Karlsen, said this is the company’s third mission for Intelsat in the past 11 months.

"We look forward to the next Intelsat mission on Sea Launch, scheduled to take place in the first quarter of 2013," Karlsen said.

Following the launch to a final orbital position at 302 degrees East longitude, the Boeing Satellite Systems’ built satellite will replace the existing Intelsat 9 and offer direct-to-home (DTH) and cable services, after the completion of global broadband mobility platform in 2013.

Featuring a Ku-band mobility beam, the satellite is designed to offer 18 years of service to DTH and cable programmers in Latin America, South America, North America and Europe, while its C-band will offer services for North America, the Caribbean, Brazil, Europe and Western Africa.

Intelsat 21, also featuring Ku-band mobility beam, will offer coverage across the South Atlantic region to the company’s maritime and aeronautical customers.

Intelsat CEO, David McGlade, said Intelsat 21 will refresh capacity for Latin America’s premier video neighbourhood and will offer vital communications services spanning four continents.

"In addition, Intelsat 21 continues deployment of Intelsat’s Ku-band global broadband mobility platform, designed to support the rapid growth in demand for broadband connectivity for maritime and aeronautical applications," McGlade said.

Intelsat, following the completion of the fourth of five launches planned for 2012, is also planning to launch Intelsat 23 in late 2012, from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Image: Sea Launch’s Intelsat 21 satellite launch marks the completion of the company’s second of three planned missions in 2012. Photo: courtesy of Boeing.