Photo of the SES-4 satellite, courtesy of SS/L
....January 29th, 2012, from Baikonur at 01:23 local time. The SS/L built spacecraft is based on the 1300 platform and will attain orbit via a Proton M/Breeze M launch vehicle. Poised to be the largest satellite in the SES fleet, SES-4 at 338 degrees East will replace NSS-7 and will enhance what is already the largest neighborhood in the Atlantic. SES-4 will be a hybrid satellite featuring high powered C-band coverage and incremental global capacity which is ideal for video distribution, government and VSAT services. The satellite’s Ku-band payload will provide enhanced coverage and capacity across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Western Africa and Latin America. SES-4 will bring a substantial increase in the total capacity available and the state-of-the-art spacecraft has been specifically designed for its orbital location, with C-band beams serving the eastern hemisphere of Europe/Africa, full American coverage as well as a global beam to support mobile and maritime customers via four high powered regional Ku-band beams.
The Proton M launch vehicle, using a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the SES-4 satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the SES-4 satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this 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 geostationary transfer orbit. Separation of the SES-4 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff.
