[Satellite Today 04-07-09] Sea Launch vessels have departed their home port in preparation for the launch of Telespazio’s Sicral 1B communication satellite, Sea Launch announced April 6
    The launch, scheduled for April 19, will place Sicral 1B in a high-perigee geosynchronous transfer orbit at 11.8 degrees East. Telespazio will use some of the satellite’s transmission capacity and will offer communications services to NATO and the European defense market.
    Built by Thales Alenia Space, Sicral 1B carries a EHF/Ka-band, three UHF-band and five active SHF-band transponders.