The Antonov carrying both the EUTELSAT 5 West B and Mission Extension Vehicle-1 spacecraft arrived today at Yubileiny Airport in Kazakhstan around 11:30 am local time. Offload of ground support equipment and both spacecraft proceeded smoothly and both spacecraft are in route by train to the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The launch is scheduled for this fall. The Proton is stored in Hall 111 while the Breeze M is in its processing area in Hall 101.

Built by Airbus Defence and Space and Northrop Grumman, EUTELSAT 5 West B will serve video markets in Europe and North Africa from the key 5° West orbital position where it will replace the EUTELSAT 5 West A satellite, providing business continuity and improved service quality via a Ku-band payload of 35 equivalent 36 MHz transponders.

SpaceLogistics LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, provides cooperative in-orbit satellite servicing to geosynchronous satellite operators using its fleet of commercial servicing vehicles. Their servicing vehicle, the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV)™ docks with customers’ existing satellites providing the propulsion and attitude control needed to extend their lives.