The spacecraft is currently at the spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, undergoing final preparations for its launch into geosynchronous orbit (GEO) aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket. The launch is currently scheduled for February 12, 2009. Orbital highlights the fact that the NSS-9 satellite was delivered for launch in less than 23 months from the start of the contract. The NSS-9 spacecraft will provide C-band telecommunications services using three interconnected beams, enabling global, Eastern and Western hemisphere coverage. The satellite, which is based on Orbital’s STAR-2 platform, has a launch mass of approximately 2,200 kilograms and will generate approximately 2.3 kW of payload power to service 28 active transponders. The NSS-9 satellite will be positioned at 183 degrees East longitude upon successful completion of its in-orbit testing.
Satnews Daily
February 5th, 2009
Orbital's NSS-9 Ready For Introduction To Its Orbital Slot
The spacecraft is currently at the spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, undergoing final preparations for its launch into geosynchronous orbit (GEO) aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket. The launch is currently scheduled for February 12, 2009. Orbital highlights the fact that the NSS-9 satellite was delivered for launch in less than 23 months from the start of the contract. The NSS-9 spacecraft will provide C-band telecommunications services using three interconnected beams, enabling global, Eastern and Western hemisphere coverage. The satellite, which is based on Orbital’s STAR-2 platform, has a launch mass of approximately 2,200 kilograms and will generate approximately 2.3 kW of payload power to service 28 active transponders. The NSS-9 satellite will be positioned at 183 degrees East longitude upon successful completion of its in-orbit testing.