[Satellite Today 07-13-09] Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has shipped the AsiaSat 5 satellite, built for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Ltd. (AsiaSat), to the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan, where it is scheduled to launch in early- to mid-August, SS/L announced July 10.
    The satellite, based on SS/L’s 1300 platform, will be launched onboard a Proton Breeze M rocket provided by International Launch Services (ILS).
    AsiaSat 5 carries 26 C-band and 14 Ku-band transponders designed to provide television broadcast, telephone networks and VSAT networks for broadband multimedia services across the Asia-Pacific region. The spacecraft will replace AsiaSat 2 at 100.5 degrees East.