Satellite provider Intelsat SA and International Launch Services on Sunday successfully launched the Intelsat 22 satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan.
The new satellite is geared to deliver enhanced satellite capacity for telecommunications players in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
After a 15-hour and 30-minute mission, at 11:40pm EDT, the Breeze M successfully released the Intelsat 22 satellite, weighing 6 199kg.
Built by Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems, the satellite will provide C- and Ku-band capacity for media, government and network services customers. In addition, Intelsat 22 will host a specialised UHF communications payload for the Australian Defence Force.
The satellite will become operational in May and will replace Intelsat 709 at 72^0 East and is expected to have a useful life of approximately 18 years.
"The launch of Intelsat 22 is a significant milestone in many respects, not the least of which is its role in demonstrating the viability of hosted payloads in delivering customised space solutions for government users. On time and on budget, the delivery of the UHF payload for the Australian Defence Force successfully demonstrates how hosted payloads are embraced by governments seeking cost-efficient access to space," says Intelsat CEO Dave McGlade.
"In addition, as Intelsat 22 enters service, its customised beams will further progress our global mobility broadband fabric, allowing always-on broadband for ships and planes traversing the world's busiest transport routes.”
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