SES AMERICOM, an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG), today
confirmed that its AMC-14 satellite failed to reach its intended orbit
following its launch on board a Russian Proton Breeze-M launch vehicle
on March 15. An anomaly during the second burn of the fourth stage of
the rocket resulted in the satellite being placed short of the planned
geostationary transfer orbit.
"While we are not in a position to comment on the possible causes
of this launch anomaly, the satellite is healthy and is operating
nominally in a stable orbit under the control of Lockheed Martin. SES
and Lockheed Martin engineers are currently exploring various options
for bringing AMC-14 into its proper geostationary orbit," said Martin
Halliwell, President of SES ENGINEERING.
AMC-14 was built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, with
launch services from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan provided by
ILS (International Launch Services).
In all of the various scenarios to redirect the spacecraft,
onboard fuel will have to be used to propel the satellite to its
correct orbital position, thereby reducing its service life. SES´
investment in AMC-14 is insured for partial and total loss.
The spacecraft is entirely contracted by EchoStar Corporation and
is intended to operate at the orbital position of 61.5 degrees West.
"We are confident that the engineering teams at Lockheed Martin
and SES will find a way to place AMC-14 into the correct orbit in a
manner that our customer´s requirements can be met," said Edward
Horowitz, President and CEO of SES AMERICOM. "We cannot, at this time,
speculate on the impact of the orbit raising activities on both the
in-service date and the service life of AMC-14. We will provide
additional information in due time."
About SES AMERICOM www.ses-americom.com
As the leading supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES
AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and
maritime communications integrators, internet service providers,
mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational
institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with efficient
communications and content distribution solutions. The company,
recognized as a major innovator of advanced satellite communications
services, operates a fleet of 15 spacecraft in orbital positions
predominantly providing service throughout the Americas. In addition,
AMERICOM Government Services (AGS), a wholly-owned subsidiary, is
dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to
both civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. Government.
SES AMERICOM is an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG). SES
wholly owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in
Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES, which
provide global coverage and connectivity. The company also owns 90
percent of SES Sirius in Europe and holds strategic participations in
Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding
satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 38 satellites in 25
orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is
available at: www.ses.com
