[SatNews] An ILS Proton is scheduled to launch the Intelsat 22 satellite on March 25, 2012, at 18:10 Baikonur local time from launch pad 39.

The satellite was built by Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems and is based on their 702MP platform and possesses a mass of 6199kg. The Proton M/Breeze M launch vehicle weighs in at 705,000kg, including payload. Intelsat 22 will carry two Ku-band mobility beams providing coverage of the Indian Ocean region, which will blanket busy maritime and aeronautical routes. From its position at 72 degrees East, Intelsat 22 will have Ku-band capacity serving the Middle East and eastern Africa. Its C-band hemi beams coverage will provide connectivity to and from most of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and eastern Asia. It also carries an Ultra-High Frequency hosted payload that will be used by the Australian Defence Force. The satellite is the first to use Boeing’s new 702MP platform. The anticipated service life is 18 years.

This is the first supersynchronous mission for ILS Proton. The Proton M launch vehicle, using a 5-burn Breeze M mission design. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the Intelsat 22 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 Intelsat 22 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 15 hours, 30 minutes after liftoff. A live webcast of the launch will start approximately 25 minutes prior to liftoff at http://intelsat22.imgondemand.com.