Canadian Telecom Satellite Was Sixth Launch For 2008

International Launch Services (ILS) successfully carried the Ciel II satellite into space for the Ciel Satellite Group of Canada Wednesday onboard a Russian Proton Breeze M heavy-lift launch vehicle.

This was the sixth launch of the year, and 49th overall, for ILS. It is the 340th launch for the Proton system since its inception. The Proton Breeze M vehicle is built by Khrunichev Space Center of Moscow.

The Proton vehicle lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 7:43 pm local time (8:43 am EST). The launch vehicle carried the 5 1/2-ton satellite for 9 hours and 12 minutes, releasing it into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Ciel II is a Spacebus 4000 model built by Thales Alenia Space. The satellite will ultimately be moved to 129 degrees West longitude, where it will deliver digital television services to Canada and the contiguous United States.

"I would like to thank Ciel and SES for placing their confidence and trust in ILS and the Proton Breeze M," said ILS president Frank McKenna. "We entered into this launch contract in February of last year and set the launch for December 2008; this supports ILS's long-standing commitment to precise, on-time delivery for our customers. Ciel II is the 16th satellite that ILS has launched for the SES family, a successful, on-going collaboration that spans more than a dozen years."

A US-based company, ILS holds exclusive rights to market the Russian Proton to commercial satellite operators worldwide. Wednesday's launch marks the third successful liftoff in a row for the heavy booster, following the failed March 15 launch of the AMC-14 satellite from the Baikonur.

During that mission, the Breeze M upper stage shut down two minutes before the end of the planned second burn of its engine. The satellite survived, and was released into a lower-than-planned orbit. It was the third failure in as many years for the Proton M, and the second in six months.

A Russian State Commission determined the failure was caused by a ruptured exhaust gas conduit, which led to a shutdown of the turbo pump feeding the Breeze M engine. The booster was cleared for return to flight in June.

FMI: www.ilslaunch.com