Paris, September 22, 2011
Eutelsat Communications announces that its ATLANTIC BIRD 7 satellite is set for launch on Saturday September 24. The satellite will be delivered into orbit by a Zenit-3SL rocket operated by Sea Launch AG from the ocean-based Odyssey Launch Platform in international waters of the Pacific Ocean. Lift-off is planned for 13:18 pm Pacific Daylight Time (20:18 GMT, 22:18 CET), at the opening of a 74-minute launch window.
Built for Eutelsat by Astrium, the 4.6 tonne ATLANTIC BIRD 7 satellite will replace ATLANTIC BIRD 4A at 7 degrees West and deliver additional capacity for further expansion of services. Up to 50 Ku-band transponders will be connected to two beams giving superior coverage of the Middle East, North Africa and North-West Africa for digital broadcasting services.
A live video transmission of the launch will be available in High Definition from Eutelsats HOT BIRD position at 13 degrees East for viewers in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East (downlink frequency 12149 MHz, vertical polarisation, Symbol rate: 27.500 Mbaud). A webcast will also be available via www.eutelsat.com and www.sea-launch.com. The launch transmission is scheduled to begin approximately 15 minutes before lift-off.
