International Launch Services (ILS) revealed the details of its scheduled March 10 launch of the Inmarsat 4-F1 satellite. The spacecraft will be sent into orbit onboard an Atlas 5 rocket. The launch will take place at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch window will open at 4:52 p.m. EST for 15 minutes.

EADS Astrium manufactured the satellite for Inmarsat based on its Eurostar E3000 model. The spacecraft is the first in a line of next-generation satellites which will support Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN), delivering Internet and intranet content and solutions, video-on-demand, videoconferencing, fax, e-mail, telephony and local area network access at speeds up to 432 kilobits per second. The satellite will operate in the C- and L-bands and has the capability for more than 200 spotbeams. It will operate at 65 degrees East. The 4-F1 spacecraft has a 13-year targeted lifetime.