International Launch Services (ILS), using a Proton rocket with its Briz-M booster stage, successfully launched SES’s QuetzSat-1 satellite late on Sept 30 from the Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Some nine hours into the flight, the satellite was flawlessly separated from the rocket into its geostationary transfer orbit. ILS has now launched 19 SES satellites using the Proton rocket system.

QuetzSat-1 will serve Mexico, the USA and Central America and is wholly leased to EchoStar Corp, and will be positioned at 77 degrees West. The spacecraft is based on Space Systems/Loral’s highly reliable 1300 satellite platform and carries 32 Ku-band transponders. QuetzSat-1 provides the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances and provides high power for advanced DTH television. It is designed to deliver service for 15 years or longer.

This latest addition brings the SES fleet to 49 craft in orbit.

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