SES Astra Confirms Astra 1M Launch Date

[Satellite Today 10-08-08] SES Astra’s Astra 1M satellite will be launched aboard a Proton Breeze M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 31, the company said Oct. 8.
    The mission, provided by International Launch Services (ILS), will be the seventh Astra satellite to be launched on a Proton rocket.
    The satellite was built by EADS Astrium, and is based on the Eurostar 3000 platform. It will be positioned at SES Astra’s prime orbital position 19.2 degrees East, where it will provide pan-European coverage. It will primarily deliver DTH services, including HD television.
    SES Astra says the launch of Astra 1M will allow it to redeploy other satellites to its increasingly important orbital position of 23.5 degrees East.