Eutelsat’s Sesat launched successfully from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 0306 local time on April 18. Russian senior staff spoke of their “mutual happiness”, referring to links between Eutelsat and the satellite’s builders, and the “emotional moment” of the launch. Sesat is the first satellite contracted by a western operator to a Russian prime contractor (in this case NPO-PM). This is the 80th launch from launch pad 39 at Baikonur. Eutelsat director general Giuliano Berretta meanwhile confirmed Sesat would be the first of eight new satellites to be launched by Eutelsat over the next 24 months. Eutelsat has dedicated Sesat to Sir Arthur C Clarke, who created the concept of the geostationary orbit.