AsiaSat 8 en route to Cape Canaveral. Photo: SSL

[Via Satellite 06-13-2014] The Space Systems Loral (SSL)-built satellite for AsiaSat, the AsiaSat 8, arrived at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, where it will be prepared to launch on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle. Preparations are underway for a July launch, which will be the first SpaceX launch for both AsiaSat and SSL.

AsiaSat 8 will provide Direct-to-Home (DTH) television services, data broadcasting and telecommunications services in Asia and the Middle East. The satellite will co-locate with AsiaSat 7, and the additional capacity will assist with the growing demand for telecommunications services in these regions.

The satellite carries a Ka-band payload and four Ku-band beams to cover China, India, the Middle East and South East Asia. The spacecraft is also equipped with inter-beam switching. AsiaSat 8 is based on the SSL 1300 platform, and it is the third SSL-built satellite for AsiaSat.