ILS Proton Lifts Off With AMC-12 Satellite

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, Feb. 3/Satnews Daily/ — A Proton M/Breeze M rocket successfully lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 9:27 p.m. EST today (7:27 a.m. Feb 3 in Baikonur) carrying AMC-12 satellite, formerly known as WorldSat-2 of SES Americom, an SES Global Co. (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchanges: SESG).

International Launch Services in a report shortly after the liftoff said separation of the AMC-12 satellite from the Breeze M upper stage is anticipated in just under 9 hours and 20 minutes after liftoff. The launch vehicle was manufactured by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center in Moscow.                    

AMC-12 satellite is a Spacebus 4000 spacecraft built by Alcatel Space for service at 37.5 degrees West longitude orbital position, pending receipt of appropriate FCC authorizations. 

AMC-12 is a high-powered C-band satellite and has 72 transponders organized into three regional beams: North America, South America and Europe/MiddleEast/Africa. The satellite will support a wide range of applications from TV broadcasting to high-speed Internet connections.

When operational, AMC-12’s extensive coverage reaches from the U.S. to the eastern reaches of the Mediterranean and from Cape Town, South Africa to Lima, Peru. The spacecraft has an anticipated service life of 16 years. 

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