In July 2009 satellite operator Intelsat ordered the Intelsat-21 satellite with Hughes Satellite Systems (Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc). The satellite will be based on Boeing’s BSS-702MP platform. The satellite was launched in 2012, and serves at the 302° East longitude orbital location over the Indian Ocean region, replacing Intelsat-9.

The payload is powered by two solar wings, each with four panels of ultra-triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells. The satellite contains 24 C-band transponders covering the western hemisphere and 36 Ku Band transponders offering mobility beams. The focus of Ku-Band coverage for this satellite is South America. Intelsat has a planned on-orbit service life of 15 years for this satellite.

Intelsat-21 satellite was successfully launched on August 19^th, 2012 on a Zenit-3SL launcher from the Odyssey launch platform operated by launch operator Sea Launch. It was Sea Launch’s 33rd mission since its inaugural flight in March 1999