International Launch Services (ILS) successfully carried the SES-1 satellite directly into geostationary orbit yesterday (Saturday, April 24th) on an ILS Proton for SES WORLD SKIES, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG). This was the third ILS Proton launch and the fifth overall Proton launch this year — the SES-1 satellite was also the 22nd consecutive successful Proton launch in 21 months.

The ILS Proton Breeze M launched from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 5:19 p.m. and, after an eight-hour, 58-minute mission, the Breeze M successfully released the SES-1 satellite directly into geostationary orbit. This was the 356th launch for Proton since its inaugural flight in 1965, and the 59th ILS Proton launch overall. The Proton Breeze M launch vehicle was developed and built by Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center of Moscow, one of the pillars of the Russian space industry and the majority shareholder in ILS.

The SES-1 satellite was built on Orbital’s space-proven Star 2.4 platform and will replace SES’ existing AMC-2 and AMC-4 satellites at the orbital position of 101 degrees West. SES-1 is an integral part of SES’ satellite replacement program over North America. The spacecraft carries 24 C-band transponders as well as 24 Ku-band transponders of 36 MHz capacity each and has been designed to have a minimum expected service time of 15 years.