Intelsat 16 was launched into space on May 6, 2010, aboard a Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The launch vehicle consisted of a Breeze M upper stage and a Briz-KM upper stage, which successfully deployed the satellite into its geostationary transfer orbit.
The Intelsat 16 satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral and is based on the LS-1300 platform, which has a long history of reliable service in space.
With a mass of approximately 6,000 kilograms, Intelsat 16 is a significant addition to the Intelsat fleet, providing expanded coverage of the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
Check this out: Thaicom 6
Launch Details
The Intelsat 16 satellite was launched on February 12, 2010, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The launch vehicle used was a Proton M, with a Breeze M upper stage, and it weighed around 691,000 kg, including the payload.
The satellite itself was manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation and weighed approximately 2,069 kg.
The Proton M launch vehicle stood at a height of 56.2 meters, which is roughly the same height as a 17-story building.
For your interest: Hellas Sat 2
The launch was carried out by International Launch Services (ILS), with the Intelsat 16 satellite being the second orbital satellite launched on a Proton vehicle.
The satellite was designed to provide expansion capacity for SKY Mexico, offering High Definition (HD) services and delivering news, sports, and entertainment programming to its direct-to-home viewers.
The Intelsat 16 satellite has 24 Ku-Band transponders and will be located at 58 degrees West Longitude.
The satellite is expected to have a service life of 16 years, which is a significant amount of time considering the rapid advancements in technology.
The launch vehicle, Proton M, has a diameter of 4.1 meters along its second and third stages, and a first stage diameter of 7.4 meters.
The Proton booster has a total first stage vacuum-rated level thrust of 11.0 MN, which is equivalent to 2,500,000 pounds of force.
Mission Report
The Intelsat-16 mission was a complex one, with a launch date set for February 12, 2010. The satélite was constructed by Orbital Sciences Corporation and is based on the Star-2.4 model.
The Intelsat-16 has a mass of 2,056.6 kg and is expected to have a 16-year operational life. It will be located in the geosynchronous orbit at 58° West longitude.
The mission will involve a 9 hour and 34 minute launch, with the Briz-M stage carrying out four burns. This will place the Intelsat-16 in a suborbital trajectory, from which the Briz-M will then perform a series of orbital maneuvers to reach its final geosynchronous orbit.
The Proton-M launch vehicle, which arrived at the Baikonur Cosmódromo on December 30, 2009, will be used for this mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Intelsat satellite mysteriously breaks up in Earth's orbit?
The Intelsat 33e satellite mysteriously broke apart in Earth's orbit, with debris spotted in geostationary orbit. This incident has raised concerns about the cause and potential risks of space debris collisions with other satellites.
Featured Images: pexels.com
