Payload:
W2A communications satellite
Spacebus 4000 C4
Separated spacecraft mass: Approx. 5,900 kg

Launch Vehicle:
Proton M/Breeze M
705,000 kg including payload
58.2 m (191 ft)

Launch Date:
April 03, 2009

Launch Time:
22:24 Baikonur
16:24 GMT
12:24 EDT

Launch Site:
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Pad 39

Launch Customer:
Eutelsat Communications, France

Satellite Manufacturer:
Thales Alenia Space, France

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

Launch Services Provider:
International Launch Services, Reston, Va.

Satellite Use:
W2A has a triple-band mission (Ku-band, C-band and S-band), expanding the 10° East orbital position. Extending Ku-band capacity for professional video services and telecommunications services, W2A will serve Europe, North Africa and the Middle East via a fixed Widebeam footprint and southern Africa and Indian Ocean islands via a second Ku-band fixed beam. W2A will also increase the fleet’s C-band capacity for broadband and telecommunication services in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India and Latin America, as well as enabling interconnections across these continents. W2A features Europe’s first S-band capacity. This state-of-the-art payload will be an essential building-block for a hybrid infrastructure over Europe, combining satellite and terrestrial networks, to provide universal coverage for mobile TV services and direct communications services such as security communications or crisis management. The S-band payload will be commercialised by Solaris Mobile, a venture jointly owned by Eutelsat and SES Astra.

Satellite Statistics:
47 Ku-Band transponders, 10 C-band transponders and an S-band  payload
Orbital location: 10 degrees East longitude
Anticipated service life: 15 years

Mission Profile:
The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the W2A satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the ascent unit (Breeze M upper stage and the W2A satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the ascent unit first to an elliptical parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit and finally to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Separation of the W2A satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 10 minutes after liftoff.

Target Orbit at Separation:
Apogee: 35,596 km (22,118 miles)
Perigee:  5,010 km (3,113 miles)
Inclination: 20.7 degrees

Spacecraft Separation:
Approximately 9 hours, 10 minutes after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics:
50th Proton launch for ILS
4th Proton launch for Eutelsat
4th Spacebus 4000  launched on a Proton
1st S-band Satellite for Europe

Live Launch Broadcast:
Test Signals starting at 11:45 AM EDT US 3 April 2009 (3:45PM / 15:45 UTC/GMT) (7:45PM / 19:45 Moscow)
Live Coverage Starting at 11:59 AM EDT US 3 April 2009
Launch is scheduled for 12:24 PM EDT US 3 April 2009
Launch Broadcast concludes no later than 1:00 PM EDT US 3 April 2009 (Firm Out)

In North America the Broadcast may be Seen on:
Satellite: Galaxy 28
Transponder: C-12
Orbital Position: 89 Degrees West
Bandwidth: 36MHz
Downlink Frequency:3940.000 Horizontal

In Europe the Broadcast may be Seen on:
Satellite: NSS 7
Digital Channel: NSS-7 NV6/EUH6
Orbital Position: 338 degrees East
Band: KU Digital PAL
Bandwidth: 9 MHz
Downlink Frequency: 11,549.900 Horizontal
Sym Rate 5.632
FEC 3/4

In Europe, Asia and Baïkonour at the Launch Site the Broadcast may be Seen on:
Satellite: SESAT 1 B3
Digital Channel: G
Band: Ku
Satellite Channel: EUTELSAT SESAT 1 “G”
Bandwidth: 9 MHz
Downlink Frequency: 11097.5 Horizontal
Sym Rate 5.632
FEC 3/4

More Information:
Live webcast at www.ilslaunch.com will begin approximately 20 minutes before liftoff.  General mission information and launch status updates are available at the website or on the ILS U.S. domestic Launch Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.  Coordinates for satellite broadcast of the launch will be posted when they are confirmed.