SKYM 1 in Orbital ATK’s Dulles, Va. satellite manufacturing facility. Photo: Orbital ATK

[Via Satellite 04-21-2015] Orbital ATK has transported the Sky Mexico 1 (SKYM 1) satellite for DirecTV to Arianespace’s Kourou, French Guiana launch site after completing the manufacturing in 20 months — four months ahead of schedule. The satellite, Orbital ATK’s first for DirecTV, will undergo pre-launch preparations ahead of a late May 2015 launch aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.

SKYM 1 is based on the GEOStar 2 platform, and is built for Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcast services to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The satellite has a launch mass of 3,000-kg and a design life of 15 years.