Intelsat 18: Satellite was Encapsulated Today

The Intelsat 18 satellite was encapsulated today. Here you see the (Left to Right); Block DM-SLB Upper Stage, Intelsat 18 satellite and the Fairing.

Intelsat 18: Fast Facts

Intelsat 18 is scheduled to launch on October 4th at 5 PM EST (U.S) from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. This is the first of seven Intelsat launch missions between now and the first quarter of 2013.

The satellite will carry a hybrid C- and Ku-band payload. The satellite's C-band payload will serve East Asia, the Pacific Ocean region and the western U.S. The Ku-band payload will serve French Polynesia, eastern Australia and the U.S. This satellite will replace Intelsat’s IS-701 spacecraft at 180ºE and begin service in November 2011.

Fast Facts about IS-18:

• The Land Launch vehicle that is launching the Intelsat 18 satellite is officially known as the Zenit 3SLB Integrated Launch Vehicle.

• The Zenit is built in the Ukraine and was originally designed as a strap-on booster to launch the Buran, the Russian Space Shuttle.

• The Block DM is built in Moscow and is a multi-functional upper stage vehicle used in many configurations (on Proton and Zenit rockets).

Intelsat 18: Satellite Fueling Operations Completed

The Intelsat 18 satellite completed fueling operations on September 19, 2011 here in at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Everything went as planned and we are on schedule with our October 4 launch.

The satellite is transferred from the satellite test processing facility, where it was examined to ensure there were no issues after it left the Orbital factory. It then went to the hazardous processing facility via a rail system. Here in Baikonur, all transfers are done with rail cars and locomotives. This legacy system, from the Soviet times, is the preferred method for transferring rockets and satellites between facilities. Every processing facility in Baikonur has indoor rails that allow the space products to be parked right into the building.

In the first picture, you see the green locomotive, the blue thermal car (provides clean, conditioned air to the satellite container) and the grey satellite container in the background. This container, known as the interfaculty trailer provides environmental protection as the satellite is moved from the testing facility to the fueling facility.

In the second picture, the satellite is being lowered onto a stand inside a tented facility to begin fueling operations. The room is specifically designed to accommodate fueling of the satellite, which is an extremely hazardous operation.

Personnel will don environmental suits with an external air supply, as shown in the third photo.

Coming up this week:

Combined Operations: This is where the satellite comes together with the booster, the Block DM-SLB. The Intelsat 18 satellite will be mounted on top of the upper stage followed by encapsulation with the fairing.

IBC 2011: Kurt Riegelman & TIBA CEO Norberto Alvarez agree on a Intelsat 27 contract extension

At IBC 2011 in Amsterdam, Intelsat SVP of Global Sales Kurt Riegelman and TIBA CEO Norberto Alvarez agree on a contract extension on Intelsat 27 at 304.5 degrees east. The multi-year, multi-transponder agreement will allow TIBA to provide standard- and high-definition video content to tier one broadcasters in the Americas and western Europe for the 15-year life of the satellite.

The Intelsat booth at IBC 2011 in Amsterdam.