SES-4 satellite launch re-scheduled for 14-15 Feb

SES has announced that International Launch Services (ILS) has re-scheduled the SES-4 satellite launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on board an ILS Proton Breeze M rocket for 1:36 am local time on 15 February, 2012 (14 February, 2012 at 1936 UTC).

SES-4 has C-band beams serving the eastern hemisphere of Europe and Africa, full coverage of the Americas, and a global beam to support mobile and maritime customers. Four high-power, regional Ku-band beams will provide service to Europe, the Middle East, West Africa as well as North and South America with extensive channel switching capability between C- and Ku-band transponders for enhanced connectivity.

The new satellite is based on the Space Systems/Loral 1300 platform and designed to deliver services for 15 years or more. SES-4 will be the 50th satellite in the global SES fleet and will also be the largest, most powerful SES satellite. It will replace the NSS-7 satellite at 338 degrees East longitude and provide increased capacity at this well-established SES orbital slot.

In North America, the live broadcast of the launch will be available on the SES-2 satellite at 87 degrees West, C21, downlink frequency 4120.00 MHz, horizontal polarization, service ID 155086.

In Europe, the broadcast of the launch via Astra satellite is available at the orbital position 23.5° East, channel 3.224, downlink frequency 12168.00 MHz, vertical polarization, Symbol rate 27.50 MSym/s, FEC 3/4, service ID 5250, service name SES-4 Launch.

A webcast is available via www.ilslaunch.com. The video transmission of the launch of SES-4 will begin approximately 30 minutes before liftoff.