Intelsat-18 Successfully Launched

The new Intelsat-18 was successfully launched from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan aboard an Zenit-3SLB.


Intelsat-18, which was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, carries a hybrid C- and Ku-band payload and is located at an orbital slot at 180 degrees East Longitude. The satellite's C-band payload will serve Eastern Asia, the Pacific and the Western United States and its Ku-band payload serves French Polynesia, Eastern Australia and the United States. It will enable enhanced DTH coverage and network services capabilities via the Ku-band and C-band platforms.


Once operational in November, it will replace Intelsat 701 at 180ºE and is expected to have a useful life of nearly 17 years.
http://www.intelsat.com