SES GLOBAL (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) announces that it
has contracted with the Sea Launch Company for a mission on its Land
Launch system, to send the AMC-21 spacecraft into orbit in mid-2008.
Land Launch will use a Zenit-3SLB vehicle to launch the AMC-21
satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit from the Land Launch site
at the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. Both the satellite and the
launch vehicle will be integrated and launched from the Zenit
processing and launch facilities at the Baikonur complex. Optimizing
on heritage hardware, systems and expertise, Land Launch uses a
Zenit-3SLB version of the reliable Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket.
Weighing about 2,500 kilograms at launch, AMC-21 is being
manufactured by Alcatel Alenia Space. The satellite will be built on
the small-sized spacecraft platform STAR-2 of Orbital Sciences
Corporation. AMC-21 will feature 24 Ku-band transponders, operate from
orbital location of 125 degrees West, and provide coverage of the
United States and the Caribbean. The satellite will be operated and
marketed by SES AMERICOM.
States Dany Harel, VP, Space Systems and Operations at SES
AMERICOM, "SES is pleased to add Land Launch to the roster of its
launch services providers and is confident that the robust Zenit-3SLB
booster, in combination with Sea Launch's outstanding expertise in
innovative launch solutions, will be instrumental to the success of
the AMC-21 mission."
"We are delighted to be launching the AMC-21 satellite for SES,"
said Rob Peckham, interim president and general manager for Sea
Launch. "This contract is a strong demonstration of our reputation for
meeting our customers' requirements and supporting their business
goals. We look forward to honoring the confidence SES has entrusted in
Sea Launch and to building a long-term relationship with their
world-class team."
AMC-21 will be the first satellite of an SES company to use a Land
Launch. AsiaSat, an SES affiliated company, has contracted with Sea
Launch for AsiaSat-5 satellite, which is being built by Space
Systems/Loral, to be launched in late 2008 on Land Launch.
About SES GLOBAL
SES GLOBAL (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) wholly owns three
market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM
in the US and New Skies Satellites in regions other than North America
and Europe. The Company also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat
in Asia, Star One in Latin America, SES Sirius in Europe, Ciel in
Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico. Americom Government Services provides
network solutions and bandwidth to the US government and its
contractors. SES GLOBAL provides outstanding satellite communications
solutions via a fleet of 43 satellites across the globe.
Additional information on SES GLOBAL is available at:
www.ses-global.com
About Land Launch
Land Launch is based on the collaboration of the Sea Launch
Company and Space International Services (SIS), both international
companies, to meet the launch needs of an emerging market for
dedicated commercial launches in the medium spacecraft mass range. Sea
Launch and SIS provide commercial customers with mission management.
SIS is also responsible for hardware production and launch operations.
For additional information, please go to:
www.sea-launch.com/land-launch/index.html