[SatNews] Space Systems/Loral (SSL) has announced that the Anik G1 satellite, designed and built for...

...Telesat, was launched yesterday and is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The satellite deployed its solar arrays on schedule following its launch aboard a Proton Breeze M launch vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS) from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. The satellite will begin firing its main thruster tomorrow in order to start maneuvering into geosynchronous orbit.

Anik G1 is a multi-mission satellite with three different payloads that will provide DTH television service in Canada, as well as broadband, voice, data, and video services in South America where economic growth has driven high demand for satellite services. This is also the first commercial satellite with a substantial X-band payload for government communications over the Americas and the Pacific Ocean including Hawaii. The satellite will be positioned at 107.3 degrees West, where it will be co-located with Telesat’s Anik F1 satellite, doubling both the C- and Ku-band transponders serving South America from its orbital slot.

Anik G1 is based on the highly reliable SSL 1300 space-proven platform, which has the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. The spacecraft is designed to deliver service for 15 years or more. With this launch, there are 73 SSL-built satellites currently on orbit.

“I would like to thank and congratulate everyone at Telesat, ILS, and SSL who contributed to the success of Anik G1,” said John Celli, president of SSL. “With a legacy of trust and collaboration, our companies share a commitment to the highest quality service and the expansion of the world’s ability to communicate.”

“The launch of Anik G1 reflects Telesat’s commitment to bringing the most advanced satellite services to our customers,” said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO of Telesat. “Once in service, Anik G1 will provide expansion capacity for DTH services over Canada, a new X-band payload for government services, and additional C-band and Ku-band capacity for South America, where demand continues to grow. The Anik G1 program was a superb team effort between Telesat and SSL and we are very pleased that the satellite is on orbit and has completed its initial deployments according to plan.”