Asia's leading satellite operator, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) announced the signing of a launch contract with Sea Launch Company, LLC for the launch of AsiaSat-5 aboard a Zenit-3SLB rocket on the Land Launch system.
In a communication received here on Tuesday, the AsiaSat-5 aboard a Zenit-3SLB rocket on the Land Launch system scheduled for the second half of 2008 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. AsiaSat-5 is designed to replace AsiaSat-2 at the orbital location of 100.5 degrees east.
It is a Space Systems, Loral 1300 series satellite with 26 C-band and 14 KU-Band transponders and an estimated operational life of 15 years.
AsiaSat S's C-Band footprint will offer an extensive pan-Asian coverage and its high power KU-Band beams will focus on both East and South Asia with a steerable beam that will cover anywhere within AsiaSat S's geographic coverage.
AsiaSat Chief Executive Officer Peter Jackson said: "We have successfully completed this major milestone in our procurement of AsiaSat-5."
"The land launch Zenit-3SLB rocket is based on a mature, flight-proven design, it is a highly reliable launch vehicle that offers the schedule assurance that meets our requirements for a 2008 launch," he added.-PR