SES Astra, a subsidiary of SES, will launch its Astra-1L satellite onboard an Ariane 5 rocket, SES Astra announced March 14.

The satellite, an A2100 AXS model built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, will join the Astra satellites currently co-positioned at 19.2° East to operate as a replacement satellite for existing capacity, and to strengthen redundancy and customer security scheme.

A May 3 launch is planned from Kourou, French Guiana. Astra-1L marks the ninth Astra satellite launched with Arianespace, and the third Astra satellite launched with an Ariane 5 rocket.