[Satellite TODAY 08-10-11] The SES-2 satellite has arrived to the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana after being shipped by its manufacturer Orbital Sciences, in preparation for its launch on an Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA rocket in early September, the satellite’s operator SES announced Aug. 9.

SES-2 is a hybrid C- and Ku-band satellite that will replace SES’ AMC-3 spacecraft at 87 degrees West to provide coverage of North America and the Caribbean. The satellite will distribute advanced digital media, as well as supporting a variety of enterprise, VSAT and government customers.

            SES-2 is based on Orbital’s Star 2.4 platform, carrying 24 C-band transponders and 24 Ku-band transponders.

“The satellite’s easterly location with its excellent coverage of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean was specifically designed to provide communications links to offshore platforms for customers in the oil and gas and maritime markets. The cross-strapping capabilities from C- to Ku-band on the spacecraft will enable customers to further optimize their enterprise networks,” SES said in a company statement.