[Satellite TODAY Insider 10-07-11] Sea Launch AG successfully placed the Intelsat 18 satellite into orbit Oct. 5 onboard a land launch Zenit-3SLB rocket from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan, FSS satellite operator Intelsat announced Oct. 6. The rocket’s liftoff occurred at 5 p.m. EDT, followed by spacecraft separation approximately six-and-a-half hours later.

   Intelsat contracted Orbital Sciences to build and design Intelsat 18 to provide capacity enabling enhanced C- and Ku-band DTH coverage and network services capabilities to a variety of regions. The satellite’s C-band payload will serve Eastern Asia, the Western Pacific and North America. Intelsat 18’s Ku-band payload will serve North America, French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and other islands.

   Intelsat said that its new satellite would become operational next month, replacing the Intelsat 701 spacecraft currently located at the 180 degrees East orbital slot for a 17-year service life.

   Intelsat CEO David McGlade said Intelsat 18 would provide infrastructure enabling its customers to deliver media content directly to homes throughout the Pacific Ocean region, while providing broadband services to government and commercial users.

   “Intelsat’s strategy aligns our fleet investments to support our customers’ growth needs. The Intelsat 18 payload includes a Ku-band beam designed to meet the requirements of Office des Postes et Telecommunications (OPT) of French Polynesia. The customer will use this beam to provide new broadband, expand its domestic DTH service and improve its infrastructure across French Polynesia, with the ability to serve the South Pacific,” McGlade said in a statement.

   French Polynesia’s OPT currently provides services to the Pacific Ocean region via the Intelsat 701 satellite.

   Sea Launch’s Moscow-based subcontractor Space International Services provided hardware and services to the mission. Sea Launch President Kjell Karlsen said his company’s second successful mission since emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a subsidiary of RSC Energia was a significant milestone and could open the doors for more business with its long-standing partners

   “Our entire team would like to thank [our partners] for continuing trust and confidence in our system and the services we provide. Finally, I wish to congratulate the Sea Launch and Energia Logistics teams, RSC Energia, and all of our suppliers and contractors who support us and contribute to our mutual success.”