[SatNews] On June 4th, the BADR-5 communications satellite will be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome In Kazakhastan, Pad 39, by International Launch Services aboard a Proton M/Breeze M launch vehicle. BADR-5 is owned by Arabsat and was manufactured by Thanles Alenia Space, based on their Eurostar E3000 bus.

BADR-5 will be co-located with BADR-4 and BADR-6 DTH focused satellites at ARABSAT’s 26 degrees East video "hot-spot". This newest satellite will guarantee to Arabsat’s broadcasting customers a unique "hot" redundancy, the highest level of service provided within the MENA region. Complementary capability will include supporting the projected expansion of HD-TV broadcast and the development of sophisticated interactive services.

The satellite will pack 56 Ka- and four Ku-band transponders and has an anticipated service life of 15 years. The Proton M launch vehicle, using a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 — the first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the BADR-5 satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From that 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 geosynchronous transfer orbit. Separation of the BADR-5 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 13 minutes after liftoff. Web coverage of the launch will start approximately 20 minutes prior to liftoff at http://www.ilslaunch.com.