SES Astra selected International Launch Services (ILS) to launch the Astra 1KR satellite, SES announced Dec. 21. The satellite, the first SES Astra mission for ILS, will be launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., in April.

Astra 1KR will join seven Astra satellites co-positioned at 19.2 degrees East and will operate as a replacement satellite for existing capacity at this position, allowing SES Astra to redeploy some of its resources.

Financial terms of the launch contract were not disclosed.