Ariane 5 on launch pad. Photo: ESA

[Via Satellite 01-21-2015] SES has selected Arianespace to launch the all-electric SES 12 satellite aboard an Ariane 5 rocket in late 2017. The mission will be the 40th SES satellite to launch aboard an Ariane vehicle.

Currently under construction by Airbus Defence and Space, SES 12 is a 5,300-kilogram hybrid satellite designed to replace the NSS 6 satellite and add incremental capacity in the Asia-Pacific region from the 95 degrees East orbital position. The satellite’s traditional wide-beam mission carries 54 transponders for Direct to Home (DTH), government and VSAT customers. The second half of the satellite will sport 70 Ku-band spot beams and 11 Ka-band spot beams for more than 14 GHz of capacity to serve VSAT, enterprise, mobility and government customers. This high throughput payload also supports a Digital Transparent Processor (DTP) for improved anti-jamming capabilities and increased payload flexibility.

SES 12 will collocate with the SES 8 satellite, which launched in 2013. SES broadcasts to almost 20 million DTH households in India and Indochina from this orbital slot.