December 5, 2008

Payload: 
CIEL II communications satellite
Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000 C4
Separated spacecraft mass: Approx. 12,260 lbs (5,561 kg)

Launch Vehicle:
Proton M/Breeze M
Weight at liftoff:  702,000 kg (1,547,000 lbs), including payload
Height: 58.2 m (191 ft)

Launch Date:
Dec. 10 (Baikonur, GMT, North America)

Launch Time: 
19:43 Baikonur
13:43 GMT
08:43 EST

Launch Site: 
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Pad 39

Launch Customer: 
Ciel Satellite Group
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Satellite Manufacturer: 
Thales Alenia Space
Cannes, France

Launch Vehicle Manufacturer:
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow

Launch Services Provider:  
International Launch Services (ILS), Reston, VA.

Satellite Use:
Advanced Broadcast Satellite Service satellite delivering high-definition and other TV services throughout North America; anchor customer is DISH Network Corp.

Satellite Statistics: 
32 Ku-band transponders
Orbital location:  129 degrees West longitude
Anticipated service life of 16 years

Mission Profile: 
The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a five-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent trajectory to place the Breeze M fourth stage and the Ciel II satellite into a suborbital trajectory. From there the Breeze M will place itself and the spacecraft into a circular parking orbit. Following four additional burns of the Breeze M, the satellite will be injected into a geostationary transfer orbit. Separation will occur at approximately L+9 hours, 12 minutes.

Target Orbit at Separation:   
Apogee: 35,603 km (22,123 miles)
Perigee:  5,597 km (3,478 miles)
Inclination: 19.5 degrees

Spacecraft Separation:
Approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics:
6th ILS mission this year
15th ILS Proton launch for SES AMERICOM
3rd Spacebus 4000 model to launch on Proton
49th ILS mission on Proton

Live Launch Broadcast:
Test Signals starting at 08:00 ET US 10 December 2008 (13:00 GMT)
Live Coverage Starting at 08:20 ET US 10 December 2008
Liftoff is scheduled for 08:43 ET US 10 December 2008

In the United States and Canada launch broadcast may be seen on:
Satellite: AMC1
Transponder: C9
Orbital Position: 103 degrees West
C-Band Analog NTSC
Bandwidth 36 MHz
Downlink Frequency: 3880 H

In Europe the broadcast may be seen on:
Satellite: NSS 7
Digital Channel: ENV8 EUH8 CH AB
Orbital Position: 338 degrees East
Band: Ku Digital PAL
Bandwidth 9 MHz
Downlink Frequency: 11684.5 Horizontal
Sym Rate 5.632
FEC 3/4

More Information: 
Live webcast and general mission information are available on the ILS web site at www.ilslaunch.com.  Launch status updates are available on the ILS U.S. domestic Launch Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.  Satellite coordinates for downlinking will be posted on the ILS website when they are confirmed.

Contact Us!

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