The Orbital-built Intelsat 15 GEO communications satellite was launched aboard a Land Launch Zenit rocket on November 30, 2009 from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. During the coming weeks Orbital engineers will conduct in-orbit testing of the spacecraft before turning it over to the customer to initiate commercial service.
Intelsat 15 will replace Intelsat 709 currently positioned at 85 degrees East Longitude. The satellite’s high power Ku-band payload will provide video and data services for the Middle East and Indian Ocean regions as well as Russia. Intelsat 15 will produce 4.6 kW of power and features two 2.3 meter dual-grid deployable antennas as well as one 1.4 meter dual-grid deck-mounted antenna.
About STAR™ Satellites
Orbital’s highly successful geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) communications satellites are based on the company’s STARTM spacecraft platform, which is able to accommodate all types of commercial communications payloads and is compatible will all major commercial launchers. The company’s STAR product line includes the STAR 2.4 design, which is optimized for smaller satellite missions, generating up to 5.0 kW of payload power. Orbital has also developed the higher-power STAR 2.7 spacecraft design, delivering the next increment of payload power for applications between 5.0 and 7.5 kW, allowing Orbital to offer its innovative and reliable satellite design to the medium-class of communications satellites.
