Launch Date: March 16 (Baikonur)
March 15 (GMT, U.S.)

Launch Window Opens: 04:06 a.m. Baikonur
23:06 GMT
6:06 p.m. EST

Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Complex 81, Pad 24

End User: Eutelsat, Paris

Satellite Manufacturer: EADS Astrium, Toulouse, France

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

Launch Services Provider: International Launch Services (ILS), McLean, Va.

Satellite Use: Largest satellite launched to date for Eutelsat. Ku- and Ka-band frequencies and Skyplex on-board processing to provide direct-to-home, video, data and broadband services in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Satellite Statistics:
58 transponders (50 operational simultaneously)
Orbital location: 7 degrees East longitude
Anticipated service life of 15 years

Mission Profile: The Proton launch vehicle will inject the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, using a five-burn Breeze M mission design. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent trajectory to place the Breeze M fourth stage, with the satellite, into a suborbital trajectory, from which the Breeze M will place itself and the spacecraft into a support orbit of 180 km (112 miles), inclined at 51.6 degrees. Then the satellite will be propelled to its transfer orbit by additional burns of the Breeze M. Following separation from the Breeze M, the spacecraft will perform a series of liquid apogee engine burns to raise perigee, lower inclination and circularize the orbit at the geostationary altitude of 36,000 km (22,300 miles).

Target Orbit at Separation:
Apogee: 35,786 km
Perigee: 3,978 km
Inclination: 13 degrees

Spacecraft Separation: Approximately 9 hours, 10 minutes after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics:
2nd ILS launch in a week
3rd ILS mission this year
1st Proton mission this year
28th ILS mission on Proton

NEWS MEDIA ACTIVITIES

Live Broadcast in U.S.: Galaxy 3 , transponder 2, C-band, 95 degrees West, downlink 3740 MHz (vertical), analog
Test signals start at 5:30 p.m. EST

In Europe & Russia: NSS-7, transponder NAV6/EUH6, Channel 1, Ku-band, 338 degrees East; FEC 3/4; downlink 11573.750 MHz (horizontal)
Test signals start at 22:30 GMT

More Information: Live webcast and general mission information are available on the ILS web site. Launch status updates are available on the ILS U.S. domestic Launch Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.