Leading satellite provider Eutelsat has confirmed that its EUTELSAT 9B craft has reached a geosynchronous transfer orbit after lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Bad weather had delayed the original launch of the craft from an ILS Proton rocket.
Separation of Eutelsat's new satellite occurred after a 9-hour 12-minute Proton flight. Partial deployment of the satellite's solar panels, which represents the first critical post-launch operation, took place two hours later.
Following further manoeuvres and in-orbit tests, the five-tonne Ku-band EUTELSAT 9B will now occupy the 9° East neighbourhood and is attributed with being able to increase Eutelsat capacity to 50 physical transponders. It will address broadcast markets through one pan-European footprint delivering coverage for four regional footprints serving Germany, Greece, Italy and the Nordics, with the Baltics and Ukraine. It will assume broadcasting of over 350 TV channels currently served at this position by EUTELSAT 9A and provide expansion capacity for new services.
Commenting on the launch, Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat chairman and CEO, said: "Our congratulations to ILS and Krunichev for a flawless launch that sees a new Eutelsat satellite propelled on its way to geostationary orbit. This sophisticated satellite programme reflects outstanding collaboration between Eutelsat, ESA, Airbus Defence and Space, ILS and Krunichev. We look forward to putting EUTELSAT 9B to work for the benefit of our broadcaster clients and to the inauguration of the ground-breaking European Data Relay System."
Source: http://www.rapidtvnews.com/2016013141566/successful-launch-for-eutelsat-9b.html#axzz3ysNliQRx