18th Aug 2008 09:30
COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR LAUNCH OF THIRD INMARSAT-4
18th August 2008 - Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, together with launch provider International Launch Services (ILS) and satellite manufacturer Astrium, has confirmed the readiness of the Proton Breeze M launch vehicle to launch the third Inmarsat-4 satellite.
The launch is scheduled for 11.43pm BST on 18th August 2008 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (4.43am 19th August, local time).
The countdown was initiated by ILS, which has completed rigorous pre-launch checks and the fuelling of the launch vehicle. A final inspection is now underway before the launch receives full clearance.
Eugene Jilg, Chief Technology Officer at Inmarsat, said: "Early indications from the pre-launch checks show that the launch vehicle and satellite are nominal and ready for a successful launch."
The Breeze M uses five burns, lasting around nine hours, to place the satellite into geosynchronous orbit. Inmarsat expects to confirm a successful launch by approximately 9.30am BST on Tuesday 19th August.
The current constellation of two Inmarsat-4 satellites delivers mobile broadband services to 85 per cent of the world's landmass, covering 98 per cent of the world's population. A successful launch of the third Inmarsat-4 will complete the global coverage for Inmarsat's broadband services. Following its launch, the Inmarsat-4 F3 satellite will undergo a period of deployment and several weeks of comprehensive tests and manoeuvres before being positioned in geostationary orbit at 98º West.
Live and recorded coverage of the Inmarsat-4 F3 launch will be available in streaming video from www.inmarsat.com.
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