Hong Kong, 26 September 2017 – AsiaSat 9, the most powerful satellite from Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat), Asia’s leading satellite operator is set for launch at 00:52:16 Baikonur time on September 29 (02:52:16 Hong Kong Time September 29; 18:52:16 GMT September 28) by an ILS Proton Breeze M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.
This next generation satellite, based on the SSL 1300 platform, is designed to replace AsiaSat 4 and to provide multiple C, Ku and Ka-Band payloads for direct-to-home (DTH) television broadcast, video distribution, VSAT broadband networks and mobility services at 122 degrees East longitude. With innovative and cutting-edge features such as Asia’s highest powered 110 watts C-band TWTA, special filter design, star tracker and hall effect thrusters, AsiaSat 9 is able to deliver enhanced performance, higher efficiency and operational stability.
AsiaSat 9 will also offer brand new coverage for high growth markets in Asia, including the world’s first dedicated Ku-band Myanmar beam, high-power Ku-band beams for Indonesia and Mongolia, in addition to two enhanced Ku-band beams serving Australasia and East Asia, and a wide C-band footprint that offers significantly improved power over Asia, Australasia and the Pacific region.
The mission is performed by the Proton Breeze M rocket from launch pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the AsiaSat 9 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 nearly circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Separation of the AsiaSat 9 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 13 minutes after lift-off.
Live broadcast of the AsiaSat 9 launch will be available on 29 September (local Baikonur time) on:
Satellite: AsiaSat 5 C-band
Orbital Location: 100.5 degrees East
Transponder: C3H
Downlink Frequency: 3717 MHz
Polarisation: Horizontal
Compression and Video Format: MPEG-4, DVB-S2
Symbol Rate: 4.9373 Msym/sec
Modulation: 8PSK
FEC: 3/4
Live broadcast will begin approximately 30 minutes before lift-off
Live webcast of the launch at http://asiasat9.imgondemand.com/ or http://www.asiasat.com/asiasat-9-launch will begin approximately at 00:30 Baikonur time on September 29 (02:30 Hong Kong Time September 29; 18:30 GMT September 28)
For launch status updates, follow us on www.asiasat.com | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Mobile App
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About AsiaSat
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), the leading satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world’s population with its six satellites, AsiaSat 3S, AsiaSat 4, AsiaSat 5, AsiaSat 6, AsiaSat 7 and AsiaSat 8. The AsiaSat satellite fleet serves both the broadcast and telecommunications industries. 700 television and radio channels are now delivered by the company’s satellites offering access to more than 830 million TV households across the Asia-Pacific region. AsiaSat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, a company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 1135). For more information, please visit www.asiasat.com | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Mobile App
Media Contact:
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited
Winnie Pang, Manager, Marketing Communications | Tel: (852) 2500 0880 | Email: wpang@asiasat.com
Countdown begins with AsiaSat 9 aboard an ILS Proton Breeze M rocket rolled out to the launch pad