The Intelsat-16 (IS-16) satellite has been successfully launched into orbit by an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The geosynchronous earth orbit communications satellite built by Orbital Sciences for Intelsat is based on Orbital’s STAR spacecraft platform.

Its Ku-band payload will expand Intelsat’s Latin America direct-to-home service at its 58°W longitude orbital position.

The IS-16 is expected to have a useful life of at least 15 years and is part of Intelsat’s on-going 11-satellite launch campaign.

Following the launch, Intelsat and Orbital will carry out in-orbit testing on the satellite for several weeks.