SES NEW SKIES, an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) and Sea
Launch are initiating the final preparations for the launch of the
NSS-8 communications satellite. Liftoff of the sixth satellite in the
SES NEW SKIES fleet is planned at the opening of a 37-minute launch
window beginning at 3:22 pm Pacific Standard Time (23:22 GMT) on
January 25th, 2007.
The Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander are
currently sailing to the launch site at 154 degrees West Longitude on
the Equator to begin launch operations. Upon arrival, the launch team
will initiate a 72-hour countdown and ballast the Launch Platform 65
feet, to launch depth, performing final tests on the launch system and
the satellite. On launch day, a Zenit-3SL rocket will lift the 5,920
kg (13,051 lb) spacecraft to geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way
to a final orbital location of 57 degrees East Longitude.
The high-power, state-of-the-art NSS-8 satellite is a Boeing 702
spacecraft that carries 56 C-band and 36 Ku-band transponders designed
to replace the existing NSS-703 satellite as the centerpiece of NEW
SKIES' strategic Indian Ocean contribution to SES' global
communications network. The successful launch of NSS-8 will
subsequently also allow for NSS-703 to be re-deployed to the Atlantic
Ocean region at 340degree East, further boosting the global coverage
and connectivity provided by the 40 plus strong fleet of satellites in
the SES Group. NSS-8 will support a wide range of functions, including
corporate communications, government and military operations,
Broadband Internet services and broadcast applications.
The satellite will provide coverage to two-thirds of the world's
population, serving countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the
Indian subcontinent and Asia. Designed for a 15-year lifespan, NSS-8
will have 18 kilowatts of total power at the beginning of life on
orbit.
Sea Launch will carry live coverage of this first mission for SES
NEW SKIES via satellite and also streaming video on the Sea Launch
website at www.sealaunch.com. The live video stream can also be
accessed via links at www.ses-newskies.com and/or www.ses-global.com
About SES NEW SKIES
SES NEW SKIES is an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) offering
satellite communication services to a range of customers including
telecommunications providers, broadcasters, corporations and
governments around the world. SES NEW SKIES owns and operates a global
fleet of five satellites in orbit, with two additional spacecraft
under construction (NSS-8 and NSS-9) and ground facilities around the
world. Headquartered in The Hague, the company has offices in Hong
Kong, New Delhi, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Washington, D.C. In
addition to SES NEW SKIES, SES wholly owns market-leading satellite
operators SES ASTRA in Europe and SES AMERICOM in North America and
also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One in
Latin America, SES Sirius in Europe, Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in
Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions
via a combined fleet of more than 40 satellites across the globe.
Further information on the company is available at
www.ses-newskies.com and on SES at www.ses-global.com.
