Rachel_Sandford
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On Saturday, September 24[SUP]th[/SUP], Eutelsat Communications' Atlantic Bird 7 satellite was successfully launched into orbit. The satellite will be replacing the Atlantic Bird 4A, which will now be redeployed to an alternative location and remain in full commercial service. Atlantic Bird 7 is the 20[SUP]th[/SUP] satellite ordered by the company and has a lifetime orbit of over 15 years. Its 50 transponder payload is 11 more than the 4A.
The satellite was launched to enhance Eutelsat's capability at 7 Degrees West and will be working with Nilesat, an Egyptian satellite operator that also has satellites in the area. The next step for Eutelsat will be circularising the satellite's orbit and then conducting a series of tests before moving it to its final location by mid-October.
Atlantic Bird 7 was launched from the Odyssey Launch Platform, a floating ocean platform that operates from the Pacific. Its launch location on international waters is 3,300 miles southwest of Long Beach and 1,400 miles south of the Hawaiian Islands. By situating itself near the equator, launch rockets can use less fuel by using the earth's rotation for momentum. The satellite went up via a Zenit-3SL rocket, operated by Sea Launch AG, which just recovered from Chapter 11 protection bankruptcy a few months ago.
After an hour and seven minutes of flight, the Zenit released the 4.6 tonne Atlantic Bird 7 into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Within three hours of separation, partial deployment of solar array was completed. All of this was monitored by Eutelsat's teleport in Rambouillet and was webcast on the company's website.
"We are delighted to announce that ATLANTIC BIRD™ 7 is on its way to 7 degrees West, and thank Sea Launch, Energia Logistics and RSC Energia for a precisely executed launch. This new satellite will deliver headroom for expansion at one of Eutelsat's fastest growing video neighbourhoods, serving vibrant TV markets in North Africa and the Middle East. It underscores our ambition to make a long-term commitment to digital broadcasting markets in the region and to team with key players to deliver first-class service.
Today's launch also represents a new step forward in Eutelsat's significant in-orbit expansion programme. Our W3C satellite is scheduled for launch next month, with five further satellites to follow into space by early 2014 that will collectively increase our resources by 20%," said Eutelsat CEO, Michel de Rosen.
Eutelsat provides satellite coverage for the entire European continent, the Middle East, Africa, United States, and parts of Asia.
The satellite was launched to enhance Eutelsat's capability at 7 Degrees West and will be working with Nilesat, an Egyptian satellite operator that also has satellites in the area. The next step for Eutelsat will be circularising the satellite's orbit and then conducting a series of tests before moving it to its final location by mid-October.
Atlantic Bird 7 was launched from the Odyssey Launch Platform, a floating ocean platform that operates from the Pacific. Its launch location on international waters is 3,300 miles southwest of Long Beach and 1,400 miles south of the Hawaiian Islands. By situating itself near the equator, launch rockets can use less fuel by using the earth's rotation for momentum. The satellite went up via a Zenit-3SL rocket, operated by Sea Launch AG, which just recovered from Chapter 11 protection bankruptcy a few months ago.
After an hour and seven minutes of flight, the Zenit released the 4.6 tonne Atlantic Bird 7 into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Within three hours of separation, partial deployment of solar array was completed. All of this was monitored by Eutelsat's teleport in Rambouillet and was webcast on the company's website.
"We are delighted to announce that ATLANTIC BIRD™ 7 is on its way to 7 degrees West, and thank Sea Launch, Energia Logistics and RSC Energia for a precisely executed launch. This new satellite will deliver headroom for expansion at one of Eutelsat's fastest growing video neighbourhoods, serving vibrant TV markets in North Africa and the Middle East. It underscores our ambition to make a long-term commitment to digital broadcasting markets in the region and to team with key players to deliver first-class service.
Today's launch also represents a new step forward in Eutelsat's significant in-orbit expansion programme. Our W3C satellite is scheduled for launch next month, with five further satellites to follow into space by early 2014 that will collectively increase our resources by 20%," said Eutelsat CEO, Michel de Rosen.
Eutelsat provides satellite coverage for the entire European continent, the Middle East, Africa, United States, and parts of Asia.