Satellite : Ciel-2 Closer to Launch

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As of press time, things were progressing well for next week's launch of the Ciel-2 satellite, a spacecraft that will support DISH Network once the bird is in orbit.

This week at the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the launch teams installed the payload fairing. The satellite is scheduled for launch next Wednesday, at 8:43 a.m. Eastern.

The Ciel-2 satellite was built for Canada's Ciel Satellite Group. SES AMERICOM has a 70 percent economic interest in Ciel, which is based in Ottawa.

The spacecraft, which will fly aboard a Proton launch vehicle, has been contracted by DISH. The satellite will reside at the 129-degree orbital location.

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Dec 05, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- International Launch Services (ILS): 
Payload:                 Ciel II communications satellite
                         Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000 C4
                         Separated spacecraft mass: Approx. 12,260 lbs (5,561 kg)
Launch Vehicle:          Proton M/Breeze M
                         Weight at liftoff: 702,000 kg (1,547,000 lbs), including payload
                         Height: 58.2 m (191 ft)
Launch Date:             Dec. 10 (Baikonur, GMT, North America)
Launch Time:             19:43 Baikonur
                         13:43 GMT
                         08:43 EST
Launch Site:             Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
                         Launch Pad 39
Launch Customer:         Ciel Satellite Group
                         Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Satellite Manufacturer:  Thales Alenia Space
                         Cannes, France
Launch Vehicle
Manufacturer:            Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow
Launch Services
Provider:                International Launch Services (ILS), Reston, VA.
Satellite Use:           Advanced Broadcast Satellite Service satellite delivering
                         high-definition and other TV services throughout North America;
                         anchor customer is DISH Network Corp.
Satellite Statistics:    -- 32 Ku-band transponders
                         -- Orbital location: 129 degrees West longitude
                         -- Anticipated service life of 16 years
Mission Profile:         The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a five-burn Breeze M
                         mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at the Baikonur
                         Cosmodrome. The first three stages of the Proton will use a
                         standard ascent trajectory to place the Breeze M fourth stage and
                         the Ciel II satellite into a suborbital trajectory. From there the
                         Breeze M will place itself and the spacecraft into a circular
                         parking orbit. Following four additional burns of the Breeze M,
                         the satellite will be injected into a geostationary transfer
                         orbit. Separation will occur at approximately L+9 hours, 12
                         minutes.
Target Orbit             Apogee: 35,603 km (22,123 miles)
at Separation:           Perigee: 5,597 km (3,478 miles)
                         Inclination: 19.5 degrees
Spacecraft Separation:   Approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff
ILS Mission Statistics:  -- 6th ILS mission this year
                         -- 15th ILS Proton launch for SES AMERICOM
                         -- 3rd Spacebus 4000 model to launch on Proton
                         -- 49th ILS mission on Proton
More Information:        Live webcast and general mission information are available on the
                         ILS web site at  [url=http://www.ilslaunch.com]International Launch Services[/url].
                         Launch status updates are available on the ILS U.S. domestic
                         Launch Hotline at 1-800-852-4980. Satellite coordinates for
                         downlinking will be posted on the ILS website when they are
                         confirmed.yes