12 Jan 2010

Welcome to the Intelsat 16 Blog

Welcome to the first ILS Proton launch campaign for 2010 – the launch of the Orbital Sciences Corporation-built, Intelsat 16 satellite for Intelsat. Follow along with the mission team as they prepare for the launch.

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08 Jan 2010

ILS President’s Letter: January 2010

The year 2009 was quite remarkable for ILS in serving the commercial launch market. In the face of global economic uncertainties and financial distress in the launch industry, ILS has adapted, in every circumstance, to the changes and challenges that our customers demanded. With the steadfast support we have received from you, our customers, 2009 was a fantastic year.

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29 Dec 2009

DTV 12 Mission Successful!

We have had a successful mission with the Proton M Breeze M rocket, carrying the DTV 12 satellite built by Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems for DIRECTV. We have had confirmation that the satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 4:32 a.m. EST, or 09:32 GMT, 9 hours and 10 minutes after liftoff. Everything occurred as planned with ignition, shutdown and separation of the Proton’s first three stages. Then the Breeze M upper stage with the satellite continued the mission, igniting five times, and then releasing the satellite into transfer orbit.

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29 Dec 2009

ILS Proton Successfully Launches DIRECTV 12 Satellite for DIRECTV; 7th ILS Proton Mission of 2009

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, December 29, 2009 – International Launch Services (ILS), a leading mission and launch services provider for the global commercial satellite industry, successfully carried the DIRECTV 12 satellite into orbit today for DIRECTV of El Segundo, California, on an ILS Proton. This was the seventh and final commercial launch of 2009 for ILS and the 56th ILS Proton launch overall. ILS Proton launched the DIRECTV 10 satellite just two years ago, demonstrating the enhanced Proton capability which became the standard configuration for future missions.

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28 Dec 2009

DTV 12 Stage Separations

We had a successful liftoff about 10 minutes ago of our Proton M Breeze M rocket, which is carrying the DTV 12 satellite. The three stages of the Proton vehicle have performed as planned, and it is up to the Breeze M upper stage to complete the mission. The upper stage has begun its first burn, which is scheduled to last around 4 minutes.

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28 Dec 2009

DTV 12 First Burn Completion

We have received confirmation of completion of the first burn. The vehicle is now scheduled to be out of range for about an hour, after which we will hear confirmation of the second burn.

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28 Dec 2009

DTV 12 Second Burn Completion

As the Breeze M upper stage of our Proton M rocket continues its climb into space with the DTV 12 satellite, we have received confirmation that the 2nd burn of the upper stage occurred and shut down as scheduled. The next events are scheduled for about 2 hours from now. The Breeze M upper stage will ignite for a 3rd time and burn for approximately 12 minutes; after that the additional propellant tank will be jettisoned, and the 4th burn will start and complete. All this will happen in a span of almost 20 minutes while the vehicle is again out of range of a ground station. We should reacquire the vehicle shortly after the 4th burn ends.

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28 Dec 2009

DTV 12 Third and Fourth Burn Completion

We have confirmed that the Breeze M upper stage has successfully completed its 3rd & 4th burns, as well as jettisoning its additional propellant tank. The vehicle is now in a 5-hour coast period, during which we will have nothing to report. The 5th burn is scheduled to start around 4:13 a.m. EST, or 09:13 GMT. Separation of the DTV 12 spacecraft is scheduled to follow the 5th burn completion by about 12 minutes.

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For the latest news and information, or if you have a question, please email ILS at contactus@ilslaunch.com