AsiaSat 9 awaits shipping to launch site
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 23 May 2017

AsiaSat’s largest ever satellite has been passed ready for shipment to its launch site in Kazakhstan, following a review meeting with manufacturer Space Systems Loral (SSL).

During the meeting, performance data of the spacecraft was critically reviewed, deep dived into each subsystem. Launch mission and in-orbit-test were also on the agenda.

AsiaSat 9 will replace AsiaSat 4 in orbit at 122° East longitude, providing enhanced C-band coverage over Asia, Australasia and the Pacific region, as well as customised Ku-band beams for Australasia, East Asia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Mongolia

“We are pleased to achieve this key milestone with our largest ever satellite ready to be shipped to the Baikonur launch site,” said Andrew Jordan, President and CEO, AsiaSat. “AsiaSat 9’s additional capacity and high performance coverage will provide the path for our continued growth and ever better service to our customers.”

More than 700 television and radio channels are now delivered by AsiaSat’s satellites, offering access to more than 830 million TV households across the Asia Pacific region.

The SSL 1300E satellite is equipped with 28 C-band and 32 Ku-band transponders, and a Ka-band payload. It will be launched by an ILS Proton Breeze M launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan later this year.