Media Advisory: ILS Proton to Launch AsiaSat 9

Watch the live webcast at 2:30 PM ET at http://asiasat9.imgondemand.com/ General mission information and launch status updates are available at the website (ilslaunch.com), twitter (#ILSLaunch) and Facebook (@ilslaunch).

Payload: AsiaSat 9 communications satellite SSL 1300 Separated spacecraft mass: Approx. 6,140 kg (13,536 lbs)

Launch Vehicle: Proton Breeze M 705,000 kg (1,554,000 lbs), including payload 58.2 m (191 ft)

Launch Date: September 29, 2017

Launch Time: 00:52:16 Baikonur

                       02:52:16 Hong Kong

                       18:52:16 UTC/GMT (September 28)

                       14:52:16 Reston (September 28)

                       11:52:16 Palo Alto (September 28) 

Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan Launch Pad 39, Launch Complex 200

Launch Customer: Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), Hong Kong

Satellite Manufacturer: SSL, Palo Alto, Ca.

Launch Vehicle Manufacturer: Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow

Launch Services Provider: International Launch Services, Reston, Va.

Satellite Use: AsiaSat 9, AsiaSat’s most powerful satellite, is designed to deliver significantly improved power and higher bandwidth usage to generate higher efficiency for customers’ services. It is a replacement satellite for AsiaSat 4 at 122°E with multiple C, Ku and Ka-Band payloads. It carries the world’s first dedicated Ku-band Myanmar beam, new Ku-band beams for Indonesia and Mongolia, in addition to two enhanced Ku-band beams serving Australasia and East Asia and a wider high-power C-band coverage across the Asia-Pacific region. The five Ku-band beams onboard AsiaSat 9 are equipped with cross-strap beam switching capability to provide flexible coverage.

Satellite Statistics: __Multiple C, Ku and Ka-Band payloads __Orbital location: 122 degrees East __Anticipated service life: 15+ years

Mission Profile: The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with the AsiaSat 9 satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the AsiaSat 9 satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a nearly circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Separation of the AsiaSat 9 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 13 minutes after lift-off.

Target Orbit at Separation

Apogee: 35,786 km (22,236 miles)

Perigee: 4045 km (2513 miles)

Inclination: 23.4 degrees 

Spacecraft Separation: Approximately 9 hours, 13 minutes after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics:

__96th ILS Proton launch

__416th Proton launch overall

__3rd ILS Proton launch of 2017

__5th AsiaSat satellite launched on ILS Proton

__31st SSL satellite launched on a Proton

Live Broadcast: Live broadcast at http://asiasat9.imgondemand.com/ will begin approximately 30 minutes before liftoff.

Satellite Coordinates for viewing in Asia:

Dates and timings: 28/09/2017 17:30 – 28/09/2017 19:15 UTC UNI WASHINGTON, D.C.

Distribution network: AsiaSat 5 100.5 deg East TXP C03H CHANNEL 6.0 MHZ 3_6 (OCC)

UPLINK FREQ.: 5942.0 MHZ POL Y BY HGKG ZZEBU/EBU AS5/HGKG EBU MOD1

DOWNLINK FR.: 3717.0 MHZ POL X

HD 1080i 60Hz 16:9 DVBS2 8PSK 4.9373 Ms/s FEC 3/4,

Pilot:On Roll-off 0.2 (MPEG4/H.264 420 10.7514 Mbps)

AUDIO:1 SOUND MONO

AUDIO:2 SOUND MONO

AUDIO:3 N/A

AUDIO:4 N/A Social Media: Follow us on Facebook @ilslaunch.com, Twitter: #ILSlaunch, #AsiaSat9, Instagram: ilslaunch

More Information: Live broadcast at http://asiasat9.imgondemand.com/ General mission information and launch status updates are available at the website (ilslaunch.com), twitter (#ILSLaunch) and Facebook (@ilslaunch).

Media Inquiries: Karen Soriano, Director of Communications and Customer Relations, International Launch Services, Reston, Va.; +1-571-633-7549; mobile: +1-571-282-5195; k.soriano@ilslaunch.com, Visit the ILS web site at www.ilslaunch.com.