Intelsat, Ltd. has announced that a Zenit-3SLB vehicle successfully launched the Intelsat 15 satellite (IS-15) from the Land Launch facilities at the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. Liftoff occurred at 4:00 p.m. ET, followed by signal acquisition and spacecraft separation about six and a half hours later at 10:28 p.m. ET.    

The satellite, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, will provide video and data services through its high power Ku-band payload. Once IS-15 is operational, it will replace Intelsat’s 709 satellite at 85 degrees East. Customers will use IS-15’s capacity to distribute in-demand services that include cellular backhaul, for wireless communications to remote locations; broadband networks for enterprise applications; IP trunking, for robust Internet connectivity; and video services, for DTH programming. Of the IS-15's 22 Ku-band transponders, five are owned by SKY Perfect JSAT Corp. The IS-15 satellite furthers the strong relationship between Intelsat and SKY Perfect JSAT Corp. Intelsat and JSAT International, the U.S. subsidiary of SKY Perfect JSAT Corp., jointly own the Horizons 1 and Horizons 2 satellites, delivering video and network services throughout North America.

Orbital’s STAR-2.4 spacecraft platform carries a Ku-band payload that will produce 4.6 kW of DC power and features advanced antennas, including two 2.3 meter dual-grid deployable antennas as well as a 1.4 meter dual-grid deck-mounted antenna. The Intelsat 15 satellite is expected to have a useful life on orbit of at least 17 years.