MUMBAI: AsiaSat 9, AsiaSat’s most powerful satellite, is set for launch on 28 September Moscow time 09:50pm (29 September Baikonur time 00:50am, Hong Kong time 2:50am) on a Proton M/Breeze M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, after being in storage at Space Systems Loral’s facility with its Pre-ship Review passed in April.
AsiaSat 9, Asia’s next generation satellite, will replace AsiaSat 4 at 122 degrees East longitude. Designed with innovative and cutting edge features, this new satellite will deliver significantly improved performance and higher efficiency for customers’ services.
New services on AsiaSat 9 include the world’s first dedicated Ku-band Myanmar beam and the new Ku-band Indonesia and Mongolia beams, in addition to two enhanced Ku-band beams serving Australasia and East Asia, and a C-band footprint that offers wider high-power coverage over Asia, Australasia and the Pacific region. AsiaSat 9’s five Ku-band beams are equipped with cross-strap beam switching capability to provide flexible coverage.
“We are excited to announce the launch date of the AsiaSat 9 mission following the long-awaited return of Proton’s service and its recent successful launch in June. With our newest satellite AsiaSat 9, we are primed to serve existing customers and new users as we reach a new milestone, presenting more cost-efficient opportunities, enhanced quality and faster services for applications through mobility, broadband data networks, and DTH services. As we have broadened our scope and innovated to provide advanced satellite solutions, we are confident in the opportunities satellite services create for future broadcasting and communications throughout the Asia-Pacific region,” said AsiaSat president and CEO Andrew Jordan.
Manufactured by Space Systems Loral, AsiaSat 9 is an SSL 1300E satellite equipped with 28 C-band and 32 Ku-band transponders, and a Ka-band payload. Unique features onboard the AsiaSat 9 spacecraft include the most powerful C-band TWTA at 110 watts, combined with special filter design to achieve higher bandwidth for higher throughput, an increase of 23 per cent across wider coverage; fitted hall effect thrusters and star tracker to achieve higher stability and reliability in satellite operation, and better performance at the edge of beam coverage.
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