MOSCOW. Jan 26 (Interfax-AVN) - The Sea Launch International Consortium will put to orbit the Intelsat 21 telecom satellite with a Zenit-3SL launch vehicle from the floating platform in the Pacific Ocean in the third quarter of 2012.
The satellite Boeing Satellite Systems will build on the 702-MP platform will be put to a geostationary orbit, says the consortium report received by Interfax-AVN. The satellite built for the Intelsat international satellite operator will replace Intelsat 9 in orbit.
It will provide video and television service to South America and have a useful life of 15 years.
Sea Launch will position Intelsat 19 next, on May 5.
The international consortium formed in 1995 launches Zenit-3SL rockets. After reorganization in 2010, Energia Overseas Limited, a subsidiary of the Energia Corporation, owns 95% of the consortium. A Boeing subsidiary has 3%, and Norwegian shipbuilder Aker Solutions has 2%.
As of now, Sea Launch has launched 31 Zenit-3SL rockets from the Pacific, including one partially successful and two abortive.