[Satellite TODAY 08-06-09] AsiaSat expects to launch the AsiaSat 5 satellite on an ILS Proton launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Aug. 12, the company announced Aug. 5.
    The satellite was originally scheduled to be orbited by Sea Launch, but was switched to ILS in February. Sea Launch filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June.
    Based on Space Systems/Loral’s 1300 satellite bus, AsiaSat 5 will carry 26 C-band and 14 Ku-band transponders, and has a design life of 15 years. AsiaSat 5 will offer a pan-Asian C-band footprint that covers more than 53 countries spanning from Russia to New Zealand and from Japan to the Middle East and parts of Africa.
    The satellite designed to replace AsiaSat 2 at the orbital location of 100.5 degrees East and to provide service continuity to all AsiaSat 2 users.

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