SES expected to delay SES-6
February 18, 2013
By Chris Forrester
SES-6 is a new satellite due for launch by a Proton rocket, and needed because of its extra 49 transponders. SES will unveil its latest financial numbers this coming Friday morning, and is expected to announce the delayed launch of SES-6, which mostly delivers C and Ku-band coverage over Latin America. The craft is carrying a massive 91 transponders in total, and was slated to occupy the 40.5 degrees West orbital position.
The delay has been created by the recent problems with the Proton/Breeze-M rocket combination from the Baikonur cosmodrome which suffered technical glitches. A launch back in December had a failed oxidiser pump bearing which halted all subsequent Proton launches. The next scheduled Proton launch is around March 27 for SatMex, which suggests that the earliest date for SES-6 would be towards the end of April or even May.