[SatNews] On March 27th, at 01:06:48 Baikonur local time, International Launch Services'...

...Proton M/Breeze M launch vehicle is scheduled to lift the Satmex 8 satellite to orbit for customer Satélites Mexicanos S.A. de C.V. (Satmex), Mexico City, Mexico. The satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), is a high-power C- and Ku-band satellite that will replace Satmex 5 and will provide fixed satellite services (FSS) in North, Central and South Americas. This new satellite will provide enhanced performance and capacity to the coverage area. Satmex 8 will improve the current continental and regional services for video contribution, video distribution, broadband, cellular backhaul and distance learning. The satellite packs 24 C- and 40 Ku-band transponders and will establish its orbital slot at 116.8 degrees West and possesses an estimated 15 year service life.

The Proton M launch vehicle, using a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the Satmex 8 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 Satmex 8 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 Satmex 8 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 13 minutes after liftoff. A full webcast stream may be viewed at http://www.satmex8.imgondemand.com/.