Long Beach, Calif., August 10, 2006 – The Sea Launch team is preparing for its fourth mission of the year, the launch of the Koreasat 5 communications satellite. The Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander are on their way to the launch site at the equator to begin launch operations. Liftoff is expected at the opening of a one-hour launch window, at 8:27 pm Pacific Daylight Time on August 21 (03:27 GMT, Aug. 22).
Upon arrival at the launch site, the team will initiate a 72-hour countdown, ballasting the Launch Platform 65 feet, to launch depth, and performing final tests on the launch system and the spacecraft. A Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 4448 kg (9,806 lb) Spacebus 4000 C1 spacecraft to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), on its way to a final orbital position of 113 degrees East Longitude.
Built by Alcatel Alenia Space in Cannes, France, the hybrid spacecraft carries 36 active transponders in multi-band frequencies. Koreasat 5 is owned jointly by the Agency for Defense Development of Korea and KT Corporation. The Agency for Defense Development has managed the military side of the Koreasat 5 program and the Joint Chief of Staff of Korean Armed Forces will operate SHF and Ka-band transponders on the spacecraft to provide satellite communications services.
KT Corporation will operate 24 Ku-band transponders. Half of these will be capable of switching to regional beams to provide advanced broadband multimedia and digital television transmission services, as well as conventional telecom services to operators in the Asia-Pacific region. The remaining 12 Ku-band transponders will replace Koreasat 2 capacity for domestic use in South Korea. While Koreasat 5 is designed for a 15-year lifespan, Sea Launch’s direct insertion into equatorial orbit is expected to yield additional years of fuel life.
Sea Launch will carry live coverage of the Koreasat 5 mission via satellite and also streaming video on the company website. Specifics about accessing this coverage will be announced when launch operations begin at the launch site.
About Sea Launch Company
Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., is the world’s most reliable commercial launch services provider. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus schedule assurance. Sea Launch offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. Sea Launch is building a legacy, with one successful launch, one satisfied customer, at a time. For additional information and images about this mission, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com
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Contact: Paula Korn, 562.499.4729 or 562.254.5684 (mobile), paula.korn@sea-launch.com |
