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Intelsat
LLC has announced that it has signed two launch services
contracts - one with Boeing Launch Services for a Sea Launch
Zenit-3SL vehicle and the second with International Launch
Services (ILS) for its Proton M/Breeze M vehicle - for the
launch of the two Intelsat X series satellites 10-01 and
10-02.
The 10-01 and 10-02 satellites, manufactured by Astrium,
are scheduled for launch during the second and third quarters
of 2003. These spacecraft have a design life span of 13
years each and will be deployed over the Atlantic Ocean
region. The X series are the first Intelsat satellites to
use plasma propulsion for in-orbit station keeping. This
more propellant-efficient design allows for an increase
in the useful mass of the spacecraft by 50 per cent over
the Intelsat IX generation; this mass can be used for providing
more transponders or more power per transponder. Both satellites
will provide Internet, broadcast, corporate network and
carrier solutions to Intelsat customers.
The 10-01 is scheduled to be deployed at 310șE and has been
designed to provide 23 Ku-band and 56 C-band transponders
(measured in 36 MHz equivalent units). The 10-02 is planned
for the 359șE location with 36 Ku-band and 70 C-band transponders
(measured in 36 MHZ equivalent units).
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