NSS-12 at 57° East
Position: | 57° East |
Manufacturer: | Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) |
Operator: | SES |
Launch operator: | Arianespace |
Launch vehicle: | Ariane 5ECA |
Launch date: | 10/29/2009 |
Expected lifetime: | 15 Years |
In May 2007, satellite manufacturer Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) was awarded a contract to manufacture a new spacecraft for SES NEW SKIES, a subsidiary of satellite operator SES Global. The satellite, called NSS-12, would be used to enable communications services for telecommunications providers, broadcasters, corporations, and governments in Europe, Africa, the Middle-East, India and other parts of Asia.
NSS-12 was the first satellite contract that SES NEW SKIES had awarded to SS/L. The spacecraft was a state-of-the-art, hybrid C- and Ku-band satellite that will be located at 57º East Longitude over the Indian Ocean Region. Based on SS/L’s highly reliable and space-proven SSL-1300 spacecraft, it will be equipped with 40 C-band and 48 Ku-band active high-power transponders (36 MHz equivalents) to help maintain and increase the capability of the company’s worldwide satellite communications network.
The satellite was completed in 2009 and was designed to have a lifespan of more than 15 years. NSS-12 was launched with co-passenger THOR-6 for satellite operator Telenor, on October 29th, 2009, on an Ariane 5 rocket operated by launch operator Arianespace from the Kourou Space Port in French Guiana.