BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, February 1, 2015 – An International Launch Services (ILS) Proton Breeze M successfully placed the Inmarsat-5 F2 (I-5 F2) satellite into a super-synchronous transfer orbit (SSTO) today. The spacecraft was launched for Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. I-5 F2 is the second of three Inmarsat next-generation Global Xpress® satellites scheduled for launch on ILS Proton. This marks the first Proton launch of the year and the fourth SSTO mission for ILS, a leader in providing mission integration and launch services to the global commercial satellite industry.
The Proton launch vehicle, carrying the I-5 F2 satellite, lifted off from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome yesterday at 18:31 local time (12:31 GMT and 07:31 EST). The SSTO mission utilized a 5-burn Breeze M mission design to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a 65,000 km-apogee super-synchronous transfer orbit. After a 15-hour, 31-minute mission, the satellite was placed into the target orbit by the Proton launcher. SSTO missions provide increased heavy-lift performance over GTO mission designs, allowing our customers the capability to maximize spacecraft operational lifetime.
The satellite was manufactured by Boeing Satellite Systems International and built on the reliable 702HP platform. Weighing over 6 metric tons at lift-off, the I-5 F2 satellite has 89 Ka-band fixed beams and 6 steerable ones. I-5 F2 is designed to generate approximately 15 kilowatts of power at the start of service and approximately 13.8 kilowatts at the end of its 15-year design life. To generate such high power, the spacecraft’s two solar wings employ five panels of ultra-triple-junction solar cells.
Global Xpress will be the first globally available, high-speed broadband network, delivered through a single network operator. It will deliver broadband speeds more than 100 times faster than the company’s fourth generation (I-4) constellation while maintaining, the network reliability for which Inmarsat is renowned. Based on Ka-band technology, Global Xpress will offer new opportunities for end-users in both public and private sectors, to significantly enhance their connectivity and to access bandwidth-hungry applications, even in the most inaccessible regions of the world.
ILS President Phil Slack stated, “It is a true honor for ILS and Khrunichev to be entrusted with the launch of the Global Xpress network for industry innovator, Inmarsat. The Inmarsat-5 F2 launch will enable ground breaking satellite communications connectivity via land, sea and air, as part of the three-satellite system launched by ILS Proton. We thank the dedicated teams at Inmarsat, Boeing, Khrunichev and ILS for their successful work on the I-5 F2 mission and we are poised to support the next mission for Inmarsat with the I-5 F3 satellite.”
“Global Xpress is a truly transformational technology and, as we complete its global roll-out, 2015 promises to be one of the most significant chapters in our company’s history. Through Global Xpress, the world can move forward from the ‘Internet of Everything’ to the ‘Internet of Everywhere’, in which high-speed, reliable and secure connectivity is available anywhere and at any time – even in the most inaccessible regions – for customers on the move or to fixed locations,” said Rupert Pearce, CEO, Inmarsat. “I am grateful for the teams at Inmarsat and Boeing for their work on this program. We also thank our partners at ILS and Khrunichev for ensuring that this mission was successful. We look forward to the ILS Proton launch of I-5 F3 this year.”
The I-5 F2 launch marked the 402nd launch for Proton since its maiden flight in 1965 and the 88th ILS Proton Launch overall. This was also the 17th Boeing-built satellite launched on an ILS Proton and the 4th Inmarsat satellite launched on Proton overall. The Proton M Breeze M vehicle is developed and built by Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center of Moscow, Russia’s premier space industry manufacturer and majority shareholder in ILS.
About ILS and Khrunichev
ILS is a world leader in providing launch services for global satellite operators and offers a complete array of services and support, from contract signing through mission management and on-orbit delivery. ILS has exclusive rights to market the Proton vehicle to commercial satellite operators worldwide and is a U.S. company headquartered in Reston, VA., near Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.ilslaunch.com.
Khrunichev, which holds the majority interest in ILS, is one of the cornerstones of the Russian space industry. Khrunichev manufactures the Proton system and is developing the Angara launch system. The Proton launches from facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and has a heritage of more than 400 missions since 1965. Khrunichev includes, among its branches, a number of key manufacturers of launch vehicle and spacecraft components in Moscow and in other cities of the Russian Federation. For more information, visit www.khrunichev.com.
About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat employs around 1,600 staff in more than 60 locations around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ISAT.L). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com.
The Inmarsat press release newsfeed and corporate updates are on @InmarsatGlobal.
Media Inquiries:
Karen Monaghan, Director of Communications, International Launch Services, Reston, Va.; +1-571-633-7549; mobile: +1-571-282-5195; k.monaghan@ilslaunch.com, For more information, visit the ILS website at www.ilslaunch.com.
Jonathan Sinnatt, Director of Corporate Communications, Inmarsat; +44 (0)20 7728 1935; +44 (0)788 960 5272; jonathan.sinnatt@inmarsat.com
Katie Potts, Corporate Communications Manager, Inmarsat; +44 (0)20 7728 1492; +44 (0)7843 518 245; Katie.potts@inmarsat.com