[Satellite TODAY 05-03-13] The SES-6 satellite, designed and manufactured by Astrium for SES, has begun its journey to space. The spacecraft left the Astrium’s facility in Toulouse, France, after completion of its final integration and test campaign and is now en route to Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in preparation for its launch on an ILS Proton vehicle.

 

    Based on the Eurostar E3000 platform, SES-6 is equipped with 43 C-Band and 48 Ku-Band transponders (36 MHz equivalent). It will enable the delivery of next generation broadcast services including HD video distribution and mobile services from its 40.5 degrees west location in geostationary orbit, covering North and Latin America, Europe and the Atlantic Ocean.

 

    The SES-6 satellite will have a launch mass of 6,100 kg, a wingspan of 40 meters once its solar arrays are deployed in orbit, and a spacecraft power of 13kW at the end of its 15-year design lifetime. Launch and early orbit phase operations will be conducted from the Astrium spacecraft control center in Toulouse.