Proton/Breeze M Combination Works Flawlessly On AMC-12 Baikonur Launch

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The AMC-12 satellite launch. Image courtesy: SES Americom.

Princeton NJ (SPX) Feb 04, 2005
The Americom-12 satellite of SES Americom, an SES Global company, roared into space onboard a Russian Proton/Breeze M launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Thursday at 7:27 a.m. Baikonur time (3:27 a.m. CET; 9:27 p.m. Eastern U.S. on February 2nd).

After 9 hours and 19 minutes, the spacecraft separated from the Breeze M and was placed into geostationary target orbit (2:46 p.m. St. Petersburg time; 12:46 p.m. CET; 6:46 a.m. Eastern U.S. Feb 3rd).

The C-band satellite will undergo payload and performance testing at 67.5 degrees West. AMC-12 is being prepared for operation from the 37.5 degrees West orbital position and in April 2005 will be ready to support the transmission of digital video and data services in three regional beams: North America, South America, and Europe/Africa in April 2005. SES ASTRA has committed to integrating 33 transponders offering services into Africa into their services portfolio as ASTRA 4A.

Star One of Brazil has contracted to purchase 18 transponders offering services within South America in their portfolio as Star One C-12. SES Americom will be using the AMC-12 capacity to interconnect the U.S. with Europe/Middle East/Africa and with South America, as well as to deliver services throughout South America.

Brent Bruun, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Solutions, SES Americom, said, �The AMC-12 spacecraft has a very important mission connecting the robust regional fleets operated by Americom, ASTRA and Star One.

Thanks to both ILS and Alcatel for a job well done; we are looking forward to April when the spacecraft becomes operational and both ASTRA and Star One can begin to deliver high-powered C-band services into their designated markets.�

"We are very proud of being a supplier to the international satellite operator SES Americom, and particularly of having built the AMC-12 high-powered satellite, the first of our new generation Spacebus 4000," said Pascale Sourisse, Chairman and CEO of Alcatel Space.

"Our teams were highly motivated to deliver this very challenging program and are giving their best on the next one, scheduled for late this year, AMC-23. It is a major goal for our company to keep the trust of such a prestigious operator and to help SES Americom address the need for new satellite-based services."

Mark Albrecht, ILS President, said, "I am delighted that this Proton mission is a success for one of our steadiest customers, SES Americom. This launch sets an industry record - we have launched five satellites for Americom over a twelve month period - that's what I call Schedule Assurance."

Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, stated, �With the ASTRA 4A payload onboard AMC-12 SES ASTRA extends its footprint considerably as we can now provide state-of-the-art satellite communications services across the entire African continent.�

Edson Soffiatti, President and CEO of Star One, stated, �Star One has acquired 18 (eighteen) transponders on the AMC-12 satellite that will enable Star One to expand its area of activity not only to Latin America, but also over North America, Europe and Africa. This new capacity will be called Star One C-12 and reinforces the international strategy of Star One.�

AMC-12 Satellite

Built by Alcatel Space, the Spacebus 4000 spacecraft, the first of this generation platform, is being prepared for service at the 37.5 degrees West longitude orbital position.

AMC-12 is a high-powered C-band satellite with 72 transponders organized into three regional beams: North America, South America and Europe/Middle East/Africa.

The satellite�s advanced design and high power levels will support a wide range of applications ... from tv broadcasting to high-speed internet connections ... facilitating reception and higher data throughput to smaller C-band antennas.

AMC-12�s extensive coverage reaches from the U.S. to the eastern reaches of the Mediterranean ... and from Cape Town, South Africa to Lima, Peru. For additional flexibility and reach, the three beams may be interconnected through on-board switching on an individual transponder basis.

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