Reston, VA – May 11, 2012
Payload:
Nimiq 6 communications satellite
SS/L 1300 Platform
Separated Spacecraft Mass: ~4,500 KG (9,921 lb)
Launch Vehicle:
Proton M/Breeze M
705,000 kg (1,554,000 lb), including payload
56.2 m (184 ft)
Launch Date:
May 18, 2012
Launch Time:
01:12:14 Baikonur
12:12:14 PDT, May 17
15:12:14 EDT, May 17
19:12:14 GMT, May 17
Launch Site:
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Pad 39
Launch Customer:
Telesat, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Satellite Manufacturer:
Space Systems/Loral, Palo Alto, California, USA
Launch Vehicle Manufacturer:
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow, Russia
Launch Services Provider:
International Launch Services, Reston, Va, USA
Satellite Use:
Nimiq 6 is a Direct Broadcast Satellite built by Space Systems/Loral. The satellite has a 32 transponder Ku-Band payload providing coverage of Canada. The satellite will be located at 91.1° west longitude. This satellite will be dedicated to the provision of direct-to-home services as part of Telesat’s DTH fleet.
Satellite Statistics:
_ 32 High Powered Ku-Band Transponders
_Fully Contracted to Bell TV
_Direct-to-Home Services
_Expansion of HDTV services
_Design Life: 15 Years
_Orbital Location: 91.1° West Longitude
Mission Profile:
The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift-off from Pad 24 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the Nimiq 6 satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the Nimiq 6 satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers 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 geostationary transfer orbit. Separation of the Nimiq 6 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 14 minutes after liftoff.
Target Orbit at Separation:
Perigee: 12,073 km
Apogee: 35,786 km
Inclination: 10.2 degrees
Spacecraft Separation:
Approximately 9 hours, 14 minutes after liftoff
ILS Mission Statistics:
_8th Telesat Satellite Launched on ILS Proton
_4th ILS Proton Launch in 2012
_22nd Space Systems/Loral Satellite Launched on ILS Proton
_73rd ILS Proton Launch Overall
Live Broadcast/Webcast:
Live Coverage starting at 14:45 Eastern/18:45 GMT.
Launch is scheduled for 15:12:14 Eastern/19:12:14 GMT
Launch Broadcast concludes no later than 15:45 Eastern/19:45 GMT
Webcast can be seen at: http://nimiq6.imgondemand.com
SD test for Baikonur and Europe/Eutelsat 10A will begin at 14:15 Eastern/18:15 GMT
SD test for Canada/Anik F2 will begin at 14:00 Eastern/18:00 GMT
HD test for US/AMC-9 will begin at 13:45 Eastern/17:45 GMT
BAIKONUR to US SD signal starts at 13:45 Eastern/17:45 GMT
In Canada, the Launch Broadcast will be Seen on the Following in SD:
Anik F2C, 7B
36 Mhz
Uplink frequency: 6205.0 Horizontal
Downlink frequency: 3980.0 Vertical
Analog SD, center cut 4:3
Audio: 6.2 and 6.8
Telesat order #220522, feed 1
Carrier ID#: 243031
In the US, the Launch Broadcast will be seen on the following in HD:
AMC-9, transponder C10, channel C10A
83 degrees West
18 mhz.
U/L frequency – 6,116.000 Horizontal
D/L frequency – 3,891.000 Vertical
1080i QPSK
FEC: 3/4
Symbol rate: 13.333, DVB – S, MPEG2 HD 4:2:0
In Baikonur and Europe, the Launch Broadcast will be seen on the following in SD:
EUTELSAT 10A (EX W2A) 10 deg East TXP B3 CHANNEL 6MHZ SLOT 3L6
UPLINK FREQ.: 14396 MHZ POL Y
DOWNLINK FR.: 11096 MHZ POL X
SD 625 16:9 50Hz DVBS2 8PSK 4.9373Ms/s FEC 3/4,
P RoF 0.2 (11_SD MPEG2 422 10.7514 Mbps)
AUDIO:1 SOUND MONO
AUDIO:2 SOUND MONO
EBU REF 12/033500/01
More Information:
Live streaming will begin approximately 30 minutes before liftoff. General mission information and launch status updates are available at www.ilslaunch.com. You can also follow us on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook for mission updates.