ILS Proton Successfully Launches Arabsat’s BADR-4 Satellite

A Russian Proton Breeze M rocket lifts off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying the BADR-4 satellite for Arabsat. (ILS photo)

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, Nov. 9, 2006/Satnews Daily/ ― A Russian-built Proton Breeze M vehicle successfully launched on Wednesday Arab Satellite Communications Organization’s (Arabsat) BADR-4 satellite that will carry direct-to-home television services, together with voice and broadband services, across the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Europe.

The Proton launcher lifted off at 2:01 a.m. local time in Baikonur (3:01 p.m. Wednesday EST, 20:01 Wednesday GMT).

The launch was managed by International Launch Services (ILS), the U.S.-Russian joint venture responsible for worldwide commercial sales and mission management of satellite launches on Russia’s Proton vehicle. The launch was the third ILS Proton flight in 2006.

“The successful launch of BADR-4 represents the realization of a critical milestone in Arabsat’s new strategic deployment, as well as the company’s steadfast commitment to consolidating its historical position as the leading operator of direct-to-home services in the Middle East and North Africa region,” said Khalid Balkheyour, Arabsat’s chief executive officer.

Balkheyour added that with the successful launch, BADR-4 is now the most state-of-the-art satellite to serve the region, providing the 130 million viewers watching our 26 degrees East video “hot spot” with an unrivalled level of in-orbit reliability and back-up, as well as unprecedented reach serving all of the 324 million inhabitants now fully covered from Morocco and Algeria to the Arabian Gulf with the highest power ever.

The BADR-4 satellite is a Eurostar E2000+ model equipped with a payload featuring 32 transponders in Ku-band. With a launch mass of 3,280 kg, it will be the 31st Eurostar to orbit.

Once in service, the Astrium-built BADR-4 will offer a wide range of satellite communications services with the highest power level and the widest coverage over the Arab countries. Co-located with the rest of the BADR constellation of satellites at Arabsat's 26° East longitude video neighborhood, BADR-4 will provide wider choices and new possibilities to an audience of 130 million viewers enjoying more than 240 TV channels and 90 radio stations, as well as serving all of the 324 millions inhabitants covered from Morocco and Algeria to the Arabian Gulf.

The Proton vehicle, built by ILS partner Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia, has carried out 322 missions for the Russian government and commercial customers over more than 40 years.

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