Satellite Launches

In our industry, few events compare with the rush and exhilaration of watching a new satellite climb toward geosynchronous orbit. Following years of tenacious planning and execution of technical expertise, Intelsat customers and employees look heavenward with the goal of shattering communications barriers and delivering world class global communications services.

Recent Satellite Launches

Intelsat 16

Intelsat 16 (IS-16) was successfully launched by International Launch Services (ILS) on a Proton Breeze M vehicle from Kazahkstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome in February, 2010.  The satellite, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, will provide expansion capacity for SKY Mexico’s direct-to-home services, including High Definition programming. In addition, IS-16 will be available to provide backup capacity for SKY Brazil.

Intelsat 15

The Intelsat 15 satellite (IS-15) was successfully launched in November, 2009 from the Land Launch facilities at the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan on a Zenit-3SLB launch vehicle. The satellite, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, will provide video and data services through its high power Ku-band payload. IS-15 is replacing Intelsat’s 709 satellite at 85º E and will provide services for the Middle East, Indian Ocean Region and Russia.  Customers will use IS-15’s capacity to distribute in-demand services that include cellular backhaul, for wireless communications to remote locations; broadband networks for enterprise applications; IP trunking, for robust Internet connectivity; and video services, for DTH programming.
Factsheet

Intelsat 14

The Intelsat 14 satellite (IS-14) was successfully launched in November, 2009 on an Atlas V rocket provided by United Launch Alliance.  The satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral, will provide high-powered data services through its C- and Ku-band payload to Intelsat customers throughout Latin America, Europe and Africa. Once IS-14 is operational, it will replace Intelsat’s 1R satellite at 315º E, providing customers with capacity that has a useful life slated to last the next 16 years.  The spacecraft also carries a hosted payload for the Internet Router in Space, or IRIS program, for Cisco.
Factsheet