MUMBAI: SES World Skies, a division of SES, has unveiled its updated strategic satellite fleet development plan, as well as a new naming convention for future additions to the fleet that will leverage the company‘s global reach and powerful brand.
Three new advanced satellites in various stages of development and construction by Orbital Sciences Corporation are intended to replenish and expand SES WORLD SKIES’ North American fleet and will be named SES-1, SES-2 and SES-3.
SES-1 is set for launch in the spring of 2010 and will replace AMC-2 and AMC-4 at the 101° West orbital slot. Further information on launch dates and slots for SES-2 and SES-3 will be published shortly.
NSS-14, currently under construction with Space Systems/Loral and scheduled for launch in Q1 2011, has been renamed SES-4. It will replace NSS-7 and provide incremental capacity over the Atlantic Ocean with comprehensive coverage of the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. NSS-7 will then move to replace NSS-5 at 340° East.
The C-band payload of the Sirius 5 spacecraft, also under construction with Space Systems/Loral and scheduled for launch in Q4 2011, will be named SES-5 and reside together with the Ku-band payload of SIRIUS 5 at 5° East.
The NSS-806 replacement satellite, under negotiation with vendors, will be named SES-6.
Finally, upon closing of the Protostar-2 acquisition announced late last year, the satellite will be fully integrated into SES World Skies global fleet and renamed following the same SES satellite naming nomenclature.
SES World Skies president and CEO Rob Bednarek says, “Our fleet strategy is focused purely on meeting our customers’ growing demand for telecom, television and government services delivery with the most reliable and advanced satellites that carry the most trusted and financially secure name in the industry. SES World Skies is embarking on one of the most ambitious satellite deployment initiatives in the industry to meet the strong need for ubiquitous connectivity in virtually every corner of the world.”
