Intelsat-21 safely launched
August 20, 2012
By Chris Forrester
Intelsat confirmed Sunday Aug 19th that a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL vehicle successfully launched its Intelsat 21 satellite from a mobile platform in the Pacific Ocean. Intelsat 21 will serve DTH and cable programmers in Latin America and once in-orbit testing is wrapped up replacing its Intelsat 9 craft.
Intelsat-21 is designed to provide more than 18 years of service and features C-band services for South America, North America and Europe, and Ku-band services for North America, the Caribbean, Brazil, Europe and Western Africa.
Intelsat-21 also features a Ku-band steerable beam, providing coverage across the South Atlantic to Intelsat’s maritime and aeronautical customers. Intelsat’s global broadband mobility platform is scheduled for completion in early 2013.
Built by Boeing Satellite Systems, Intelsat-21 is the fourth of five Intelsat launches planned for 2012. Intelsat-21 is scheduled for launch later this year aboard an ILS/ Proton launch vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.