Thursday, 26 April 2007
Ottawa based Telesat announced today that it has selected International Launch Services (ILS) for the launch of its Nimiq 5 satellite in 2009.
Telesat’s 19th satellite, being manufactured by Space Systems/Loral with participation by the Canadian satellite industry, will be equipped with 32 Ku-band transponders. It will occupy Telesat’s orbital position at 72.7 degrees West Longitude and have an anticipated lifespan of more than 15 years.
Bell ExpressVu has contracted for the use of the satellite to provide a wide range of high-definition and specialty television services to its subscribers.
This will be the sixth Telesat satellite launched by ILS on a Proton rocket. The Proton vehicle, which has carried out 325 missions for the Russian government and commercial customers over the last 40 years will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
“We are extremely pleased to be working with ILS again”, said Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s president and CEO. “We have a long and successful history with ILS who launched our Anik F1R satellite, our Nimiq 1 and Nimiq 2 Direct Broadcast satellites and, just two weeks ago, our Anik F3 satellite. ILS offered Telesat the right combination of quality, reliability, experience and value, and we look forward to working with their team on the important Nimiq 5 launch campaign.”
